i 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND 


OR, 


THE  NIBELUNGEN  LAY 


REVEALED  TO  LOVERS  OF  ROMANCE  AND  CHIVALRY. 


AUBER  EORESTIER, 


SECOND  EDITION. 


CHICAGO: 
S.  C.  GRIGGS  AND  COMPANY. 
LONDON:  TRUBNER  &  CO. 
1  8  89. 


Copyright,  1877. 
By  S.  C.  GRIGGS  AND  COMPANY. 


KNIGHT  |  LEG  HARD  I 


TO 

EASMUS  B.  AK"DEES01fr, 

of  the  University  of  Wisconsin, 
AUTHOR  OF  "NORSE  MYTHOLOGY," 

WHOSE   GENEROUSLY  OFFERED  SUGGESTIONS  HAVE  PROVED 
HELPFUL   IN   THE  PREPARATION   OF   THE  FOLLOWING 
INTRODUCTORY   PAGES,    THESE    ECHOES  FROM 
MIST-LAND    ARE,    WITH  GRATITUDE 
AND  ESTEEM,  RESPECTFULLY 
DEDICATED  BY 


AUBER  FORESTIER. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/echoesfrommistla01fore 


PEEFACE. 


E  find  in  ancient  story  wonders  many  told/' 


v  '  are  the  opening  words  of  Germany's  national 
epic  poem  of  the  days  of  chivalry,  the  Nibelungen 
Lay:  thus  indicating  from  the  outset  the  sources 
whence  are  derived  the  life-like  characters,  the  joy- 
ances  and  high-tides,  the  weeping  and  the  woe,  de- 
picted in  its  charmed  pages,  the  purport  and  sig- 
nificance of  which  it  is  the  ambition  of  the  writer 
of  this  volume  to  reveal  to  American  lovers  of 
romance  and  chivalry.  The  class  of  readers  which 
have  been  reached  by  English  translations  of  the  ven- 
erable lay  has  been  small.  The  scholar  prefers  seek- 
ing the  original,  where,  having  penetrated  the  outer 
crusting  of  the  period  when  it  was  written,  he  can 
best  hold  communion  with  its  spirit,  which,  in  every 
true  work  of  art,  belongs  to  all  periods.  The  general 
reader  is  apt  to  be  repelled  by  a  literal  translation 
of  stories  of  the  olden  time,  which,  however  admi- 
rable, being  but  a  forced  transplanting  of  past  modes 
of  expression,  often  renders  the  spirit  difficult  of  access 
while  striving  strictly  to  imitate  the  letter. 

Longing  to  awaken  with  loving  hand  long  rever- 
berating echoes  from  the  mystic  land  of  mist,  which 
is  the  literal  significance  of  the  Nibelungen  land,  to 


5 


vi 


PREFACE. 


conjure  up  for  popular  ken  the  champions  bold  and 
ladies  fair  of  the  old  lay,  with  the  motives  prompting, 
the  influences  surrounding  and  pervading  them,  we 
have  retold  its  tale  in  simple  English  prose,  in  style, 
so  far  as  possible,  adapted  to  the  mode  of  thought  and 
expression  of  our  day  and  country;  and  while  holding 
with  strict  accuracy  to  the  incidents,  and,  so  far  as 
we  ourselves  have  grasped  it,  to  the  spirit  of  the 
original,  we  have  simply  attempted  to  follow  its  lan- 
guage in  conversations,  and  in  these  only  so  far  as 
modern  prose  would  admit.  The  text  used  has  been 
mainly  that  of  Karl  Simrock,  who  has  been  occupied 
with  the  publication  of  the  Nibelungen  Lay  for  up- 
ward of  half  a  century. 

Great  care  has  been  taken  to  render  the  explana- 
tory and  suggestive  remarks  correct  and  comprehen- 
sible; but  the  subject  is  too  rich,  varied  and  many- 
sided  to  be  exhausted  here.  The  special  object  of  this 
volume  is  to  interest  readers  in  seeking  further  ac- 
quaintance with  its  materials  in  the  sources  indicated; 
and  if  we  succeed  in  this  our  cherished  object,  if  we 
become  the  means  of  guiding  thoughtful  minds  to  the 
study  of  the  Nibelungen  Lay  in  the  original,  together 
with  all  its  related  myths  and  sagas,  in  their  various 
presentations,  our  labor  will  not  have  been  in  vain. 

September  25,  1877. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction,  -  ix-liv 

BOOK  I. 

How  Kriemhild  Dreamed  a  Dream,  1 

About  Siegfried,   4 

How  Siegfried  Journeyed  to  Worms,  7 

How  Siegfried  Fought  with  the  Saxons,        -      -  15 

How  Siegfried  First  Saw  Kriemhild,   -      -      -      -  23 

How  Gunther  Fared  to  Isenland  to  Woo  Brunhild,  27 

How  Gunther  Won  Brunhild,   33 

How  Siegfried  Fared  to  the  Nibelungen  Land,   -  40 
How  Siegfried  was  Sent  to  Worms,      -      -      -      -  44 
How  Gunther  Celebrated  his  Nuptials  with  Brun- 
hild,   48 

How  Siegfried  Journeyed  Home  with  his  Bride,  -  54 
How  Gunther  Invited  Siegfried  to  a  Grand  High- 
tide,    57 

How  the  Invitation  was  Accepted,      -      -      -      -  62 

How  the  Queens  Rated  Each  Other,  65 

How  Siegfried  was  Betrayed,   71 

How  Siegfried  was  Slain,   76 

How  Siegfried  was  Bewailed  and  Buried,         -      -  85 
How  Siegmund  Journeyed  Home  and  Kriemhild  Tar- 
ried Behind,  -      -  91 

How  the  Hoard  Came  to  Worms,      -      -      -      -  95 


viii 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK  II. 

How  King  Etzel  Sued  for  Kriemhild's  Hand,  -  -  101 
How  Kuiemhild  Journeyed  to  the  Land  op  the  Huns,  113 
How  Kuiemhild  was  Received  by  the  Huns,  -  -  117 
How  Kuiemhild  Thought  of  Avenging  her  Wrongs,  121 
How  the  Minstrels  Deliveued  King  Etzel's  Invita- 
tion, 125 

How  the  Buhgundian  Louds  Jouuneyed  to  the  Land 

of  the  Huns,  134 

How  Dankwaht  Slew  Gelfuat,  143 

How  the  Louds  weue  Received  at  Bechlahen,      -  149 

How  Kuiemhild  Received  Hagen,  155 

How  Hagen  and  Volkeh  Sat  befoue  Kuiemhild's  Hall,  160 
How  Hagen  and  Volkeh  Kept  Guahd,  -  -  -  166 
How  the  Louds  went  to  Chuuch,  -  -  ,  -  -  169 
How  Blodel  Fought  with  Dank  wart,         -      -      -  175 

HOW  THE  BURGUNDIANS  FOUGHT  WITH  THE  HUNS,       -  179 

How  the  Dead  were  Cast  from  the  Hall,  -       -  -  184 

How  Iring  was  Slain,   186 

How  Kriemiiild  Gave  Orders  to  Burn  the  Hall,  -  190 

How  Margrave  Rudigeh  was  Slain,         -      -      -  195 

How  Sir  Dietrich's  Men  were  All  Slain,    -       -  -  204 

How  Gunther,  Hagen  and  Kuiemhild  were  Slain,  212 


INTEODUOTIOK 


BOUT  the  middle  of  the  past  century,  a  certain 


antiquarian  tendency  in  literature,  a  fond  look- 
ing back  into  the  past,  began  to  manifest  itself 
in  all  nations;  in  Germany  most  especially,  to  be 
recognized  as  the  re-awakening  of  national  conscious- 
ness. Then  it  was,  in  the  year  1757,  that  the  Swiss 
professor,  Bodmer,  published  an  ancient  poetical  manu- 
script under  the  title  of  "  Kriemhilden  Rache  und  die 
Klage"  (Kriemhild's  Revenge  and  the  Lament),  which 
had  been  found  in  an  old  monastic  library,  where  it 
had  lain  dormant  for  centuries.  This  was  followed 
by  a  vigorous  stream  of  investigations  and  publica- 
tions, rolling  on  with  ever  increasing  current  to  the 
present  day. 

During  the  years  immediately  following  Bodmer's 
discovery,  other  manuscript  copies  of  the  same  poem 
were  unearthed  by  other  zealous  scholars  in  similar 
monastic  lurking-places,  and  the  one  known  as  the 
Lassburg  MS.,  considered  by  many  the  most  authentic 
original  copy,  gave  to  the  poem  the  title  by  which 
it  was  thenceforth  known  to  the  world,  owing  to  its 
termination  with  the  words,  "here  endeth  the  Nibe- 
lungen  Lied."  The  portion  called  the  Lament  was 
afterward  ascertained  to  be  an  appendage  dating  from 


9 


X 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


a  later  period  than  the  remainder  of  the  song  or  lay, 
and  is  now  usually  omitted.  Many  times  translated 
into  modern  High  German  and  foreign  languages,  the 
work  has  been  criticised  and  commented  upon  by  such 
thinkers  as  Tieck,  August  Wilhelm  Schlegel,  the 
brothers  Grimm,  Uhland,  Von  der  Hagen,  Johannes 
M filler,  and  Simrock ;  and  from  their  writings,  as  well 
as  from  the  later  productions,  upon  this  and  kindred 
subjects,  of  Max  Miiller,  Carlyle,  R.  B.  Anderson,  Wil- 
helm Jordan,  Raszmann  and  Wm.  Morris,  are  derived 
the  materials  for  our  explanatory  remarks. 

Through  the  researches  of  these  authorities,  we 
learn  that  the  Nibelungen  Lay,  although  based  on 
materials  more  ancient  than  the  history  of  nations, 
arose  in  the  form  with  which  we  have  to  deal  during 
that  splendid  epoch  of  belles-lettres  prevailing  through- 
out the  Swabian  era,  from  the  middle  of  the  twelfth 
to  that  of  the  thirteenth  century,  when  the  Hohen- 
staufens  sat  on  the  throne  of  the  German  Empire. 
It  was  the  time  of  the  Crusades,  when  Germany  was 
filled  with  religious  and  martial  excitement,  and 
when  concerted  action  with  France  and  the  French 
court  of  Louis  VII  had  produced  so  marked  an  in- 
fluence on  German  culture,  German  thought  and 
literature.  The  Hohenstaufen  emperors  opened  their 
courts  with  brilliant  hospitality,  and  the  magnificence 
of  their  tournaments  and  high-tides  attracted  crowds 
from  vast  distances,  foremost  among  them  poets  and 
singers.  Thus  French  and  German  poetry  were 
brought  face  to  face,  and  French  elegance  of  diction 


INTRODUCTION. 


xi 


became  blended  with  the  rugged  grandeur  of  German 
poetic  thought  and  legendary  lore. 

Carlyle  speaks  thus  of  this  period:  "Then,  truly, 
was  the  time  of  singing  come;  for  princes  and  prel- 
ates, emperors  and  squires,  the  wise  and  the  simple, 
men,  women  and  children,  all  sang  and  rhymed,  or 
delighted  in  hearing  it  done.  It  was  a  universal  noise 
of  song,  as  if  the  Spring  of  Manhood  had  arrived, 
and  warblings  from  every  spray, —  not,  indeed,  without 
infinite  twitterings  also,  which,  except  their  gladness, 
had  no  music, — were  bidding  it  welcome." 

And  yet  this  blossoming  spring-time  of  literature, 
when,  as  Tieck  tells  us,  believers  sang  of  faith,  lovers 
of  love,  knights  discoursed  upon  deeds  of  chivalry, 
while  loving,  believing  knights  were  their  chief  audi- 
tors, was  not  one  of  pure,  unmingled  gladness.  Car- 
lyle, in  his  interesting  essay  on  the  Nibelungen  Lied, 
(Westminster  Review,  1831,)  shows  keen  appreciation 
of  that  tone  of  sorrow  and  fateful  boding  which  both 
he  and  Max  Miiller  detect  breaking,  like  a  suppressed 
sigh,  through  the  free  light  and  music  of  the  Swa- 
bian  era. 

In  describing  our  lay,  Max  Miiller  says: 
"There  is  always  a  mingling  of  light  and  shade  — 
in  joy  a  fear  of  sorrow,  in  sorrow  a  ray  of  hope,  and 
throughout  the  whole  a  silent  wondering  at  this  strange 
world.  The  key-note  of  the  whole  poem  of  the  Nibe- 
lunge,  as  it  was  written  down  at  the  end  of  the 
twelfth  or  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth  century, 
is  sorrow  after  joy.    This  is  the  fatal  spell  against 


xii 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


which  all  the  heroes  are  fighting,  and  fighting  in 
vain.  And  as  Hagen  dashes  the  chaplain  into  the 
waves,  in  order  to  belie  the  prophecy  of  the  mer- 
maids, but  the  chaplain  rises  and  Hagen  plunges 
headlong  into  destruction,  so  Kriemhild  is  bargaining 
and  playing  with  the  same  inevitable  fate,  cautiously 
guarding  her  young  heart  against  the  happiness  of 
love,  that  she  may  escape  the  sorrows  of  a  broken 
heart." 

Dr.  W.  Jordan,  in  his  Epic  Letters,  published  in 
the  German  Gartenlaube  for  1874-5,  states  that  the 
epos,  the  artistic  grouping  of  traditions  into  one 
great  poem,  can  only  have  growth  among  a  people  in 
the  hereditary  possession  of  these,  a  truly  epic  people, 
who,  in  transmitting  their  patrimony,  have  enriched 
it  with  the  accumulated  experience  of  the  ages,  yet 
who  had,  from  time  immemorial,  one  dominant  idea 
about  which  all  others  revolve  as  the  central  point  of 
union ;  that  the  epos  can  only  blossom  when  this 
people  has  attained  a  crisis  in  its  onward  march 
toward  development,  and  when,  at  the  same  time 
with  the  victorious  elevation  outwardly  as  a  nation, 
there  has  been  attained  an  enlarged  mode  of  spiritual 
thought. 

Such  were  unquestionably  the  conditions  of  Ger- 
many when  Dr.  Jordan  himself  gathered  together  the 
rich  mythical  and  legendary  treasure  stores  preserved 
in  his  own  and  kindred  races,  and,  harmonizing  them 
with  master  hand,  presented  them  to  the  world  in  his 
great   double   epos,  the  Nibelunge,  comprising  the 


INTRODUCTION. 


xiii 


Siegfried  Saga  and  Hildebrandt's  Heimkehr.  Believing 
the  spoken  or  recited  word  to  be  to  the  artist  in  the 
music  of  language  what  canvas  and  colors  are  to  the 
painter,  musical  instruments  and  the  human  voice  to 
the  musical  composer,  he  devoted  twelve  years  of  his 
life  to  traveling  as  a  rhapsodist  through  Germany  and 
America,  and  reciting  to  charmed  audiences  of  Ger- 
man-loving, German-comprehending  people,  his  great 
poem,  which  became  what  it  is,  the  poet  says,  through 
the  opportunity  thus  gained  of  studying  effects  on 
thousands  of  auditors.  Those  who  attended  his  rhap- 
sodies can  never  forget  the  vividness  with  which, 
gaining  the  ear  through  the  music  of  language,  he 
presented  to  the  imagination  the  scenes,  personages, 
actions,  he  has  so  glowingly  portrayed. 

But  the  eyes  of  the  world  have  recently  been  di- 
rected to  Germany's  traditions  chiefly  through  Kichard 
Wagner's  musical  drama,  "  The  Ring  of  the  Nibe- 
lunge,"  first  performed  at  Bayreuth  in  August,  1876. 
Its  composition,  words  and  music,  had  largely  occu- 
pied the  attention  of  its  composer  since  1847,  and 
through  the  facilities  afforded  him  by  the  king  of 
Bavaria  he,  as  well  as  Jordan,  was  enabled  to  test  the 
effect  of  his  work  before  permanently  launching  it  on 
its  struggle  for  existence.  The  history  of  the  great 
Bayreuth  festival,  with  its  splendid  scenic  and  music- 
al effects,  is  too  fresh  in  the  minds  of  our  readers  to 
make  it  advisable  to  dwell  upon  it  here.  Whatever 
influence  it  may  be  destined  to  wield  in  the  world  of 
music  and  dramatic  art,  "  The  Ring  of  the  Nibelunge " 


xiv 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


must  be  honored  as  the  culmination  of  the  efforts  of 
a  lifetime  zealously  devoted  to  rendering  available  to 
art,  national  treasure  stores;  and  if  we  feel  inclined  to 
question  its  musical  promises  for  the  future,  clinging 
more  lovingly  than  ever  to  the  broader,  deeper,  and 
more  truly  spiritual  utterances  of  the  beloved  master 
Beethoven,  and  the  other  musical  gods  whom  we  have 
delighted  to  honor,  we  bow  before  the  clearness  with 
which,  in  the  literary  portion  of  the  work,  is  indicated 
the  promise  of  the  final  purifying  of  the  earth,  and 
the  removal  of  the  curse  brought  through  greed  upon 
gold,  even  while  admitting  that  Wagner  has  succeeded 
less  in  harmonizing  his  subject  than  other  recent 
workers  in  the  same  materials. 

What  these  men  have  done  for  a  German-speaking 
public,  Wm.  Morris,  author  of  "  The  Earthly  Paradise," 
has  done  for  an  English-speaking  one  in  his  epos, 
"Sigurd  the  Volsung,"  which  bears  the  noblest  testi- 
mony that  the  Teutonic  forefathers,  the  Teutonic  myths 
and  sagas,  are  ours  also — by  right  of  our  Anglo-Saxon 
descent.  No  English  poem  of  the  nineteenth  century 
has  more  closely  adhered  to  the  pure  Anglo-Saxon 
tongue  than  this  of  Sigurd,  in  which  is  retold,  with 
suitable  tempering  to  the  modern  mode  of  thought, 
the  tale  of  the  struggles  between  the  Volsungs  and 
Niblungs,  as  gathered  from  the  Eddas,  the  Volsunga 
Saga,  the  Vilkina  Saga,  and  the  Nibelungen  Cycle. 
The  metre  is  an  alliterative  line  of  six  accents,  with 
foot  generally  trisyllabic,  which  in  the  hands  of  Morris 
becomes  flexible  and  extremely  musical. 


INTRODUCTION. 


XV 


But  these  great  monuments  of  the  nineteenth  cent- 
ury, testifying,  as  they  do,  to  its  grasping  for  freedom, 
its  tendency  to  combine  and  appropriate  in  love,  for 
the  good  of  the  whole,  the  freight  of  ages,  far  from 
rendering  worthless  the  foundation  stones  on  which 
they  are  erected,  should  prove  to  us  the  value  of  these 
as  records  of  past  periods.  A  grave  lack  of  apprecia- 
tion of  this  fact  was  shown  by  Jordan,  whose  poem 
is  even  beyond  the  others  human  in  its  interest  and 
in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  the  age,  when  he  strove 
to  cast  dishonor,  as  he  did  in  his  Epic  Letters,  on  the 
art  form  assumed  during  the  Swabian  era  by  the  ma- 
terials on  which  his  Nibelunge  was  based. 

For  the  old  Nibelungen  Lay  is  also  a  monument 
of  its  day,  mirroring,  on  a  background  of  the  inherit- 
ance of  ages,  the  hero-saga  as  regarded  under  one 
phase  of  the  thought  of  a  cultured  people.  As  the 
passions  of  the  times  were  those  of  war  and  conquest, 
the  lay  resounds  with  the  clash  of  arms,  visible  ex- 
pression of  the  mysterious  struggles  between  the  forces 
of  good  and  evil  upon  which  it  is  founded.  Julius 
Schnorr  von  Carolsfeld,  who  died  May  24,  1872,  in  the 
eightieth  year  of  his  age,  dedicated  to  the  illustration 
of  this  work  his  ripest  powers.  His  Nibelungen  wall 
pictures  in  the  king's  palace  at  Munich,  inspired  by 
the  text  of  our  lay,  and  delineating  its  characters  in 
the  most  vigorous,  forcible  and  faithful  manner,  will 
insure  it  long  life,  even  should  the  productions  of  the 
times  tend  to  cast  it  into  the  shade.  Wood  engrav- 
ings of  these  master  works,  executed  under  the  author's 


XVI 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


auspices,  are  published  in  Simrock's  large  sized  edition 
of  the  lay. 

August  Raszmann,  in  his  recent  contribution  to  the 
history  of  the  Niflunga  Saga  and  the  Nibelungen  Lied, 
dates  the  latter,  in  the  form  of  its  development  with 
which  we  are  dealing,  at  about  the  year  1200.  A 
zealous  priesthood  had  long  since  forcibly  crushed  the 
pagan  myths  which  were  its  original  germ,  but  the 
heroes  and  heroines  connected  therewith,  gradually  in- 
tertwined with  the  lives  of  well-known  historical  per- 
sonages, and  modified  by  the  actions  of  these,  lived  in 
the  hearts  of  the  people.  In  songs,  largely  of  a  lyric 
character,  they  were  long  sung  by  wandering  singers 
from  land  to  land,  taking  the  impress  of  the  periods 
and  localities  where  they  sojourned,  and  were  among 
the  first  publications  after  the  invention  of  printing. 
Many  of  them  still  exist  in  the  German  Hero-Book. 
It  were  no  more  possible  to  decide  who  wrote  them 
than  it  would  be  to  discover  the  name  of  the  gifted 
court  poet  who,  deriving  his  subjects,  thoughts  and 
ideals  from  the  traditions  of  the  people,  and  uniting 
with  them  the  manners,  language  and  metre  of  court 
life  and  court  poetry,  composed  our  lay.  From  the 
large  number  of  manuscript  copies  found,  we  may  con- 
clude that  this  was  popular  among  the  cultured  of  its 
day,  especially  from  1225  to  1240;  but  among  the 
people,  content  as  they  were  with  their  own  popular 
versions  of  its  contents,  it  was  unknown.  Before  the 
invention  of  printing  it  was  lost  sight  of,  and  lay 
dormant,  as  we  have  seen,  for  three  centuries. 


INTRODUCTION. 


xvii 


Comparative  philology,  that  telescope  through  which 
we  have  been  taught  to  contemplate  periods  and  sepa- 
rate races  existing  beyond  the  reach  of  historic  knowl- 
edge, proves  to  us  that  the  Indo-European  races  came 
from  a  common  mother-family  in  Asia  —  the  Aryan, 
who  honored  the  same  gods,  were  occupied  with 
the  same  pursuits,  who  were,  in  short,  a  firmly-estab- 
lished people,  possessing  a  high  degree  of  culture. 
Slowly  accumulated  treasure  stores  of  customs,  relig- 
ious faith,  art,  sciences  and  industries,  the  basis  of  all 
culture,  was  the  inheritance  of  the  Aryans;  and  as  it 
must  be  intrusted  to  the  guardianship  of  the  memory 
alone  for  preservation,  it  was  well  that  it  came  to  be 
transmitted  to  posterity  through  more  than  one  family 
of  heirs.  Poetic  form  of  speech  was  the  natural  result 
of  an  effort  to  assist  the  memory  in  retaining  the  sa- 
cred inheritance  which  came  to  be  protected  by  a  class 
of  singer-priests;  and  thus  the  word  epos,  in  its  orig- 
inal, narrower  sense,  meant  works  handed  down  first 
in  the  spoken,  later  in  the  written  word,  sagas  and 
written  forms. 

Four  branches  of  the  Aryan  family  are  especially 
noted  for  their  epic  possessions:  the  Indian,  Persian, 
Grecian  and  Teutonic.  Of  the  creations  of  the  first 
two,  as  most  intimately  allied  to  the  last,  brief  men- 
tion is  desirable. 

THE  INDIAN  EPOS. 

The  wanderings  of  the  Aryan  family  took  mainly 
a  westward  course.     One  of  the  branches,  however, 


XV111 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


turning  first  southward,  followed  the  Indus,  from 
which  it  derived  its  name;  then  journeying  eastward, 
made  a  victorious  march  through  the  regions  of  the 
Yamuna  and  the  Ganges.  The  history  of  its  strug- 
gles for  conquest,  blended  with  the  primeval  Aryan 
germ,  form  the  purport  of  the  Indian  cycle  of  epic 
songs,  which  attained  the  dignity  of  an  epos  at  least 
twenty-eight  centuries  ago,  two  centuries  earlier  than 
the  Grecian  under  Homer,  although  it  has  only  been 
fully  transmitted  to  posterity  in  the  form  it  attained 
eight  or  nine  centuries  later,  having  acquired,  through 
repeated  remodelings  for  political  and  religious  pur- 
poses, monstrous  and  in  many  respects  distorted  propor- 
tions. Such  transformations  are  instructive  witnesses 
of  the  value  of  poetry  in  the  history  of  nations,  prov- 
ing the  epos  to  be  a  power  in  determining  the  des- 
tinies of  a  people,  as  well  as  the  faithful  mirror 
thereof. 

The  epos  of  India  comprises  two  collections:  the 
Mahabharata,  or  the  Tales  of  the  Great  War,  and  the 
Ramayana,  or  the  Deeds  of  Rama.  As  the  Veda,  those 
sacred  writings  of  the  Brahman s,  which  are  separated 
by  three  thousand  years  from  their  latest  commentary, 
and  whose  title  signifies  "I  know,"  is  the  highest  au- 
thority of  the  oldest  form  of  Hindoo  belief,  so  these 
later  and  more  popular  books  embody  the  faith  of 
millions  of  souls  who  could  not  sufficiently  compre- 
hend the  revered  Veda  to  depend  upon  it  for  spirit- 
ual food.  Traces  of  the  original  design  have,  in  the 
course  of  ages,  come  to  be  completely  effaced  from 


INTRODUCTION. 


xix 


the  Ramayana,  but  in  spite  of  every  falsification  they 
still  remain  clearly  perceptible  in  the  Mahabharata. 
This  design  is  exemplified  in  the  destinies  and  strifes 
of  the  Kuru  and  the  Pandu  tribes,  representatives  of 
the  forces  of  Good  and  Evil,  Light  and  Darkness,  and 
commingled,  as  before  indicated,  with  historical  facts. 

The  founder  of  the  Kuru  tribe  was  Bhischma,  a 
god  of  light  and  goodness,  who  came  from  his  home 
in  the  skies  to  dwell  among  men  and  build  up  a  race 
of  heroes.  In  now  existing  versions  he  is  represented 
as  having  been  under  the  spell  of  banishment,  although 
there  is  every  indication  that  originally  he  was  sup- 
posed to  have  descended  to  earth  of  his  own  free 
will  for  the  good  of  humanity.  Bhischma  is  de- 
scribed as  having  white  hair  and  beard,  being  clad 
in  white,  driving  in  a  silvery-white  chariot  drawn  by 
white  horses,  and  being  altogether  as  awe-inspiring  to 
behold  as  a  great  white  mountain.  He  has  a  voice 
of  thunder,  and,  like  the  German  Wodan,  or  Norse 
Odin,  marking  the  bravest  heroes  for  his  own,  he  calls 
them  to  himself  in  his  cloud-home,  with  which  Valhal 
corresponds.  The  great  hero  of  the  race  is  Kama, 
son  of  the  Sun-god,  represented  as  a  foundling  com- 
mitted to  the  mercy  of  the  waves  in  a  glass-covered 
chest,  in  which  he  floated  safely  to  the  spot  destined 
to  be  his  foster-home,  as  is  our  Siegfried  in  some  of 
the  sagas.  Kama's  skin  had  an  outer  coating  of  shell, 
corresponding  with  the  horned  invulnerability  acquired 
by  Siegfried,  both  having  one  assailable  point.  As 
Siegfried  for  Gunther,  Kama  wins  a  bride,  amidst 


XX 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


imminent  danger,  for  King  Durjozana,  the  monarch 
whom  he  chose  to  serve;  as  Siegfried,  too,  he  slays  a 
dragon,  the  terror  of  the  land,  thus  gaining  mighty 
treasures;  and  finally,  as  Siegfried,  he  was  betrayed 
by  those  whom  he  had  befriended  and  who  had  pro- 
fessed great  friendship  in  return,  being  treacherously 
slain  with  a  shaft  sent  from  behind  by  Ardschuna,  the 
Hagen  of  India. 

In  short,  the  same  relations  were  held  by  the 
Kurus  and  Pandus  which  will  be  seen  to  have  been 
held  by  the  Volsungs  and  Niblungs,  the  former  being 
children  of  Light,  descended  from  Odin  by  a  mortal 
mother,  the  latter,  sons  of  Night  and  Mist,  their  hero 
Hagen  being  a  direct  descendant  from  a  gloomy  gnome, 
or  spirit  of  the  earth.  Could  there  be  clearer  indica- 
tions of  the  struggles  between  the  powers  of  light  and 
salvation  and  those  of  darkness  and  destruction?  In 
the  course  of  time,  probably  when  real  or  supposed 
descendants  of  the  Pandus  had  come  into  power, 
efforts  were  made  to  cast  into  the  shade  the  lofty 
origin  of  the  Kuru  tribe,  and  to  glorify  their  opponents. 
Precisely  in  the  same  way,  under  the  influence  of 
a  christian  priesthood,  the  divine  origin  of  Siegfried 
was  thrust  from  view,  any  savoring  of  the  pagan  gods 
being  deemed  a  taint;  and  admiration  was  aroused  for 
Hagen  originally,  doubtless,  because  his  victim,  although 
innocent  and  lovely  in  himself,  was  a  reminder  of  a 
hated  pagan  past.  But  in  neither  the  Mahabharata 
nor  in  the  Nibelungen  Lay  was  it  possible,  while 
professing  to  remain  true  to  the  main  facts,  which  the 


INTRODUCTION. 


xxi 


traditions  of  the  people  rendered  imperative,  to  wholly 
cloud  the  original  characteristics  of  the  dramatis  per- 
sona}. 

IRAN  AND  FIRDUSI. 

The  myths  carried  by  the  Aryans  to  Iran,  the 
land  between  the  Indus  and  the  Tigris,  were  the 
foundation  of  a  noble  religion,  whose  believers  became 
one  of  the  most  influential  nations,  but  it  was  not 
until  three  thousand  years  after  the  commencement 
of  its  history  that  its  rich  epic  cycle  flourished  into 
the  art  epos.  Mighty  convulsions  of  nature  had  made 
of  Iran  a  land  varying  in  altitude  from  blooming  val- 
leys to  snow-capped  peaks,  and  the  sharply-marked 
contrasts  between  day  and  night,  glowing  heat  and 
stinging  frosts,  fertile  soil  and  desert  plain,  quickened 
the  spiritual  perceptions  of  man,  enabling  him  fully 
to  realize  the  force  of  the  struggles  between  the  pow- 
ers of  light  and  those  of  darkness.  The  Aryans  in 
India  found  life  far  easier  in  their  new  home  on  the 
Ganges  than  in  their  old  one,  the  inexhaustibly  pro- 
ductive power  of  nature,  in  its  soil  and  climate,  de- 
riding all  notion  of  destruction  and  contention,  soon 
caused  the  conception  of  inimical  parties  of  gods  and 
heroes  to  fade  away;  but  their  cousins  in  Iran  found 
greater  difficulties  to  contend  with  in  their  daily  lives 
than  ever  before.  Here  man's  very  existence  was  the 
reward  of  toil,  and  he  was  impelled  to  prove  that  hin- 
drances, so  long  as  they  be  not  insurmountable,  are 
really  blessings,  since  the  struggle  with  them  is  the 
begetter  of  power. 


xxii 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


In  eastern  Iran,  where,  amid  incessant  conflicts  with 
winter  and  the  desert,  first  flourished  civilized  life,  there 
lived,  about  one  thousand  years  before  Christ,  a  poet- 
philosopher,  who  reduced  to  a  poetic-philosophic  system 
the  dual  religion  of  nature,  and  his  name  was  Zara- 
thustra  (Zerduscht),  or,  as  more  generally  known,  Zoro- 
aster. Priests  of  later  days  contrived  to  extract  from 
his  Zenda vesta  gloomy  doctrines  of  asceticism,  yet  its 
tendency  is,  in  the  main,  healthy  and  sound.  Accord- 
ing to  Zoroaster's  unfalsified  teachings,  man  was  bid- 
den to  reverence  Nature  and  Nature's  laws,  and  in 
rooting  out  the  impurities  discernible  in  the  former, 
to  view  them  as  arising  through  disregard  of  the 
latter.  The  leader  of  evil  spirits  was  Ahriman,  or 
Agramainyus,  the  evil-meaning;  the  chief  of  good 
spirits,  Ahuramazda  (Ormnzd),  the  lord  of  great  gifts, 
and  him  mankind  must  lovingly  and  gratefully  serve, 
carefully  cherishing  his  daughter  Earth,  who  smiles 
upon  her  children  when  they  tend  and  water  her 
well,  and  grows  sorrowful  when  they  neglect  her. 
Thus  was  given  to  the  religion  of  Iran  a  practical 
tendency,  and  well  can  it  stand  the  test  of  "by  their 
fruits  ye  shall  know  them." 

Then  came  the  building  up  of  the  great  Persian 
Empire,  with  the  Iranic  people  for  its  center,  followed 
by  the  conquest  of  Alexander,  later  by  the  Arabians 
and  Islam,  and,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  tenth  cent- 
ury, Mahmud  the  First,  of  Gazna,  the  son  of  a  slave, 
ascended  the  throne  of  Persia,  transformed  into  the 
mightiest  of  monarchs.    His  conquests,  in  many  re- 


INTRODUCTION. 


xxiii 


spects,  exceeded  those  of  Alexander  the  Great,  and, 
like  this  monarch,  he  found  delight  in  poetry,  viewing 
it  as  a  power  no  less  effective  in  controlling  an  em- 
pire than  the  sword  and  skill  of  the  army  commander. 
He  gathered  about  him  many  poets,  having  them  ap- 
pear for  his  habitual  evening  entertainment  as  rhap- 
sodists  before  his  assembled  court,  and  thus  he  suc- 
ceeded in  collecting  the  accumulated  stores  of  the 
legendary  lore  of  the  land  and  having  these  combined 
into  one  artistic  whole.  For  this  purpose  he  appointed 
the  poet  Abul  Kasim  Mansur,  whose  song  of  Rustem 
and  Isfendiar  so  charmed  the  shah  that  he  crowned 
him  with  the  name  Firdusi,  the  One  from  Paradise. 

In  the  seventy-first  year  of  his  age,  after  a  labor 
of  half  a  century,  Firdusi  completed  his  great  work, 
called  the  Schahnameh,  or  Book  of  Kings.  The  shah 
had  engaged  to  pay  him  a  gold  piece  for  every  couplet, 
and  his  poem  numbered  sixty  thousand  of  these,  being 
more  than  quadruple  the  size  of  the  "  Iliad "  and  the 
"Odyssey"  combined.  The  poet  had  imprudently  de- 
layed collecting  his  fee  until  his  task  was  completed, 
and  then  the  shah,  alarmed  at  its  proportions,  ordered 
reduction  to  be  made  in  the  payment;  whereupon  the 
secretary  presumed  to  make  still  further  reductions. 
Firdusi  was  in  the  bath  when  the  paltry  fraction  of 
his  dues  was  brought  to  him,  and  he  scornfully  di- 
vided it  between  his  bath  attendant  and  a  man  from 
whom  he  had  just  had  a  glass  of  beer.  Fleeing  then 
to  Bagdad,  he  wrote,  and  spread  broadcast  a  lampoon, 
denouncing  the  shah  for  giving  only  the  price  of 


Xxiv  ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 

one  glass  of  beer  for  a  work  which,  having  newly 
animated  the  Persian  Empire,  should  have  been  re- 
warded by  a  share  of  the  throne.  Although  at  first 
furiously  incensed,  Mahmud  finally  concluded  that 
he  could  afford  to  magnanimously  repent  of  his  own 
meanness;  but  the  resolution  came  too  late.  When 
the  princely  bearers  of  the  delayed  fee  reached  the 
gates  of  Tus,  the  native  city  of  Firdusi,  where  he  had 
taken  refuge  in  his  old  age,  they  met  the  humble  fu- 
neral procession  of  the  poet.  The  daughter  of  the  lat- 
ter, no  less  proud  than  her  father,  scorned  to  receive 
the  money,  and  it  was  appropriated  to  the  building  of 
an  aqueduct,  a  purpose  to  which  Firdusi  had  origi- 
nally meant  to  apply  the  proceeds  of  his  labor. 

The  Schahnameh  would  be  a  much  greater  work 
were  it  shorter.  It  bears  unmistakable  evidence  of  its 
origin,  and  yet,  through  his  lofty  contemplation  of  his 
subject,  Firdusi  has  produced  a  great  epos,  clothed  in 
most  musical  verse  and  splendid  imagery  of  style,  and 
having  for  its  supporting  and  connecting  pillar  the 
conflict  between  the  powers  of  light  and  those  of 
darkness.  The  heroes  of  Iran  are  the  champions  and 
the  favorites  of  the  good  gods,  while  the  Turanians 
are  those  of  Ahriman  and  his  evil  spirits.  Here  again 
we  have  the  contending  forces,  as  in  the  epic  cycles 
of  the  Indie  and  of  the  Teutonic  races;  but  those  of 
the  Persians  bear  the  closest  relationship  to  the  latter, 
since,  according  to  the  testimony  of  comparative  phi- 
lology, their  ancestors  descended  together  from  those 
Asiatic    highlands,    where    the    indefatigable  Jacob 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXV 


Grimm  has  traced  the  Teutonic  forefathers.  Un- 
questionably there  was  a  common  prototype,  for  Sieg- 
fried and  the  Persian,  Isfendiar,  who  could  only  be 
wounded  by  a  branch  of  the  destiny-elm,  as  Balder 
the  good,  made  man  in  our  hero,  could  only  be  slain 
by  a  mistletoe  branch.  Numerous  are  the  other  points 
of  resemblance,  and  in  the  materials  collected  by  Fir- 
dusi  we  may  greet  the  oldest  existing  monument  of 
the  primeval  days  of  the  Teutonic  race. 

THE  MYTHS  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS. 

The  myths  which  our  forefathers  (for  ours,  it  must 
be  remembered,  they  were,)  bore  with  them  from  the 
home  we  have  indicated,  took  root  on  the  new  soil 
where  they  were  implanted,  forming  a  center  about 
which  all  the  impressions  and  experiences  of  after  life 
radiated.  The  branch  of  the  Indo-European  family 
which  spread  through  Germany  built  up  for  itself 
a  noble  system  of  mythology,  reflecting  its  religious, 
moral,  intellectual  and  social  development.  Tacitus 
tells  us  of  the  might  of  the  sense  of  honor  displayed 
by  the  German,  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  held  wom- 
an, and  the  sacredness  of  the  marriage  tie;  he  speaks 
of  the  nobility  with  which  he  exercised  the  rites  of 
hospitality,  and  of  the  primitive  songs  commemorat- 
ing the  reverence  accorded  by  him  to  his  gods,  and 
the  noble  deeds  of  his  heroes.  The  German,  indeed, 
in  his  simplicity  had  attained  a  far  higher  faith  than 
the  sensuous  Eoman  or  the  superstitious  Gaul.  He 
believed  in  a  supreme,  almighty  God,  Allfather,  as  he 


xxvi 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


called  this  divinity,  who  was  to  him  too  sublime  to 
be  imaged,  or  inclosed  within  temples  built  by  hands, 
nay,  even  too  lofty  to  be  named.  In  groves  conse- 
crated to  the  unseen  God  he  poured  out  the  devotion 
of  his  heart,  thither  repairing  at  stated  times.  The 
royal  hunting-ground  of  the  Burgundian  kings,  called 
Odenwald  (Odin's  forest),  is  a  reminder  of  this.  When 
first  known  to  the  Romans,  the  Germans  had  no  priests, 
nor  were  they  accustomed  to  offer  sacrifices;  but  later 
the  purity  of  their  religion  was  tainted  by  their  Celtic 
neighborhood;  later,  in  some  localities,  profoundly  de- 
graded by  Roman  dominion. 

From  the  downfall  of  the  Roman  Empire,  in  the 
fifth  century,  to  the  Reformation,  in  the  sixteenth, 
prevailed  the  so-called  Dark  Ages,  or  thousand-year 
night;  but  Uhland  speaks  truly  when  he  says  that 
this  night  was  star-lit,  that  constellations  arose  and 
set  in  it,  which,  beneath  the  light  of  our  noonday 
sun,  are  only  visible  to  those  keen,  earnest  observers 
who  are  ever  on  the  alert  to  detect  the  divine  germ 
in  humanity  which  is  never  wholly  overclouded.  Truth 
may  be  long  hidden  by  an  obnoxious  growth,  but  it 
cannot  be  lost  —  it  is  immortal. 

Very  gradual  was  the  blending  of  the  fresh  life  of 
Germanic  paganism  with  the  Christianity  ingrafted 
on  worn-out  Roman  culture;  and  when,  in  a.d.  800, 
Charlemagne  drove  the  last  heathen  Germans,  the 
Saxons,  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  to  the  waters  of 
baptism,  their  fate  was  sealed  to  remain  long  under 
the  influence  of  a  power  which  carried  the  people 


INTRODUCTION. 


xxvii 


much  farther  from  the  true  spirit  of  Christianity  than 
they  had  been  in  their  original  state.  The  Romish 
christian  church,  which  had  so  marvelously  over- 
shadowed the  exalted  purity  of  the  christian  faith, 
also  violently  resisted  the  retention  of  so  much  as  the 
memory  of  the  grand,  ennobling  elements  of  the  old 
pagan  faith.  The  old  home  beliefs  were  taken  from 
the  German,  his  household  deities  overthrown,  his 
songs  and  prayers  forbidden  and  might  have  been 
utterly  lost  to  human  ken  but  for  the  mysterious 
guiding  hand  which  bore  them  to  faithful  Iceland,  that 
Patmos  of  Germanic  paganism,  as  Dr.  Wilhelm  Jordan 
calls  it,  where  was  recorded  the  apocalypse  of  its  past. 

ICELAND. 

Iceland  was  discovered  in  the  year  861,  A.D.,  and 
thither  from  Norway,  where  had  first  been  carried 
the  early  home  beliefs,  there  fled  some  years  later,  to 
escape  religious  and  political  oppression,  a  number  of 
noble,  high-minded  families,  cultured  in  the  highest 
ideal  of  the  Teutonic  faith,  their  souls  overflowing 
with  love  of  the  true  and  the  beautiful,  and  bearing 
with  them  the  language,  manners,  morals,  art,  religion, 
love  of  freedom  and  independence,  together  with  all 
the  freedom,  of  prosperous  Norway.  It  was,  indeed, 
fortunate  that  such  a  people  found  an  asylum  like 
Iceland,  where,  undisturbed  by  artificial  influences,  its 
powers  might  grow  and  develop,  where  its  energies 
might  not  be  directed  into  tendencies  it  would  not  of 
itself  have  chosen,  and  where,  as  the  spirit  matured, 


xxviii 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


new  developments  of  old  ideals  arose,  new  songs  were 
built  on  the  foundations  of  old  memories.  All  the 
noble  Teutonic  characteristics  were  purified,  strength- 
ened, by  the  stern,  inexorable  character  of  northern 
nature.  As  the  days  began  to  shorten  with  gigantic 
strides,  the  rich  light  and  glory  of  the  summer  to  pass 
away,  the  air  to  cloud  and  thicken,  the  sky  to  become 
tempestuous,  the  roads  impassable,  the  lonely  Norse- 
man sat  in  his  halls,  counting  the  slow  nights  and  the 
moons  and  awaiting  deliverance.  A  people  with  less 
vigorous,  less  indestructible,  mental  and  spiritual  pow- 
ers would  have  been  crushed  into  hopeless  stupidity, 
but  the  Norseman  preserved  his  heaven-soaring,  Ti- 
tanic nature,  viewing  his  surroundings  as  conditions  in 
conformity  with  the  laws  of  the  gods  whom  he  hon- 
ored and  gladly  obeyed,  and  in  loving  communion  with 
whom  he  found  compensation  for  the  sufferings  im- 
posed on  humanity. 

Thus  myths  which  may  originally  have  had  reference 
only  to  wonderful  physical  laws  became  invested  with 
spiritual  significance  and  that  yearning  for  deliverance 
evoked  by  the  long  bondage  of  winter,  awakened  the 
idea  of  a  kind,  tender  God  of  love,  light  and  spring. 
When,  therefore,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  tenth  or 
early  in  the  eleventh  century,  Christianity  penetrated 
Iceland,  it  found,  amid  a  people  prone  to  contemplate 
divinity  in  its  highest  sublimity,  which  is  the  essence 
of  pure  religion,  a  soil  well  adapted  to  the  reception 
of  those  truths  which  shine  triumphant  throughout 
the  ages,  notwithstanding  the  gross  net-work  of  false- 


INTRODUCTION. 


xxix 


hood  with  which  they  have,  alas!  but  too  often  in  the 
world's  history  been  clothed.  With  the  introduction 
of  Christianity  and  the  art  of  writing  came  a  tendency 
to  gather  together  the  dearly  loved  songs  of  antiquity, 
which  had  hitherto  been  told  from  mouth  to  mouth 
or  sung  by  the  skalds,  or  professional  singers,  who, 
throughout  Icelandic  culture,  were  held  in  high  esteem. 
The  cold,  far  distant  island  offering  small  attractions 
to  foreigners,  its  priests  were  chiefly  native  citizens, 
instructed  in  other  lands  in  the  new  faith  and  in  the 
art  of  writing,  without  having  been  weaned  from  the 
language  and  traditions  of  the  fatherland,  of  which 
they  became  the  fond  guardians.  Thus  the  priests 
were  the  founders  of  Norse  literature.  Latin,  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Komish  church,  and  with  it  the  thrall- 
dom  of  the  pope,  never  gained  firm  foothold,  and  the 
native  tongue  has  been  preserved  unimpaired  until 
the  present  day,  the  only  known  tongue  which  can 
boast  of  a  thousand  years'  cultured  reign  in  its  native 
purity. 

A  wealth  of  deeply  poetic  mythical  and  legendary 
lore,  preserved  in  writing  during  these  early  days  of 
Christianity,  has  been  handed  down  to  posterity,  and 
the  recent  numerous  translations  from  these  have  been 
a  great  gain  to  the  literature  of  an  English-reading 
public;  how  great  a  gain  and  how  completely  they  be- 
long to  us  may  be  most  fully  appreciated  through  the 
original  poem  by  William  Morris,  to  which  reference 
has  already  been  made.  The  great  literary  monu- 
ments of  Iceland  are  the  Eddas,  the  Bible  of  the 


XXX 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


North,  their  title  by  some  supposed  to  correspond 
with  the  Indian  Veda  (Norse  vide,  to  know,  as  saga 
means  to  tell);  the  combined  Niflunga  and  Thidreks, 
or  Vilkina  Saga,  being  a  collection  of  traditions  from 
the  saga-lore  of  Saxony,  written  about  the  year  1240, 
from  the  testimony  of  merchants  from  Soest  (sup- 
posed to  be  in  Saxony),  Bremen  and  Munster,  as  is 
expressly  stated  by  the  author;  and  the  Volsunga 
Saga,  dating  somewhat  later," and  containing  the  com- 
plete history,  derived  from  the  oldest  traditions,  of 
the  Volsung  race  and  heroes,  much  of  which  is  also 
preserved  in  the  Elder  Edda.  There  are  two  Eddas, 
the  Elder  or  poetical,  long  known  as  the  work  of  Sse- 
mund  the  Wise,  who  has  been  located  1056-1133,  al- 
though the  recent  investigations  of  Icelandic  scholars 
have  rendered  it  probable  that  this  did  not  receive  its 
wholly  perfected  form  until  the  middle  of  the  thir- 
teenth century;  and  the  Younger  or  prose  Edda,  at- 
tributed to  Snorre  Sturleson  (1178-1241),  author  of 
the  famous  Heimskringla,  the  great  Norse  historical 
work,  and  being  a  recapitulation  and  exponent  of  the 
first  named.  The  Elder  Edda  received  its  name  from 
Bischof  Brynjulf  Sveinsson,  who  found  it  in  the  year 
1()43,  it  having  been  lost  sight  of  since  1300,  owing  to 
periods  of  physical  and  political  reigns  of  terror,  pro- 
ceeding from  convulsions  of  nature  and  invasions  of 
the  Danes  and  Norwegians;  and  he  wrote  upon  the 
manuscript  the  words,  "  Edda  Samiundar  hins  froda," 
interpreted  "Ancestress  Tales  of  Saemund  the  Wise." 
Now,  in  the  Icelandic  tongue  Saemund  means  sowing 


INTRODUCTION. 


xxxi 


or  seed  scattering  mouth,  and  Dr.  Wilheltn  Jordan 
thinks  that  instead  of  a  name  it  was  probably  a  title 
given  to  some  celebrated  learned  singer,  as  was  the 
case  with  Firdusi. 

NORSE  MYTHOLOGY. 

A  clearly-defined  picture  of  the  grand  mythology 
recorded  in  the  Elder  Edda,  and  mainly  preserved 
therein,  the  only  thorough  presentation  of  the  subject 
in  our  language,  together  with  admirable  descriptions 
and  interpretations  of  the  fascinating  Norse  legends, 
may  be  found  in  the  valuable  work  on  Norse  Mythol- 
ogy by  Rasmus  B.  Anderson,  professor  of  the  Scandi- 
navian tongues  at  the  University  of  Wisconsin.  We 
would  heartily  recommend  this  work  to  all  appreci- 
ative souls  who  would  truly  enjoy  gaining  a  clear  in- 
sight into  the  exalted  religion  of  the  Norsemen,  and 
especially  commend  it  to  those  readers  in  whose  eyes 
our  presentation  of  the  Nibelungen  Lay  may  have 
found  favor,  in  order  that  they  may  gain  a  conception 
of  the  nature  of  the  materials  from  which  the  Sieg- 
fried story  must  have  had  growth.  Thrust  from  sight 
as  are  the  old  gods  in  our  lay,  some  acquaintance 
with  them  and  the  early  myths  are  needful  to  those 
who  would  clearly  comprehend  its  significance. 

Many  writers  treat  mythology  from  a  purely  ethical 
standpoint,  viewing  the  gods  as  personifications  of 
man's  virtues,  vices,  emotions,  mental  and  physical  fac- 
ulties; others  seek  an  historical  interpretation,  assert- 
ing, for  example,  that  the  Norse  deities  are  veritable 


xxxii 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


ancestors  of  the  Norsemen;  yet  others  treat  them  as 
impersonations  of  the  visible  workings  of  nature.  Prof. 
Anderson  believes  that  they  must  be  treated  from  a 
combined  spiritual,  ethical  and  physical  standpoint; 
that  the  historical  was  the  outgrowth  of  later  acci- 
dental points  of  resemblance;  that  the  deities  were 
originally  the  personifications  of  the  phenomena  of  the 
forces  of  nature,  and  that  the  myths  concerning  them 
were  elaborated  in  harmony  with  the  moral,  intellect- 
ual and  emotional  nature,  the  inner  life  of  man;  that 
consequently  they  were  conceived  in  human  form,  with 
human  attributes  and  affections.  The  brief  synopsis 
which  follows  is  based  on  his  authority,  his  interpre- 
tations being  the  most  thoroughly  satisfactory  and  poet- 
ical yet  presented.  But  his  book  must  be  read  by 
those  who  want  to  know  all  about  Odin,  Allfather, 
the  all-pervading  spirit,  the  essence  of  the  world,  cor- 
responding, in  many  respects,  with  what  is  known  of 
Wuothan,  or  Wodan,  of  the  Germans,  the  father  of  gods 
and  men,  who  rules  in  the  skies  and  is  father  of  the 
slain,  because  he  summons  at  once  to  himself  all  who 
are  slain  in  battle;  about  Thor,  the  son  of  Odin  by  Jord, 
the  uninhabited  Earth  (a  union  representing  Heaven 
wedded  to  Earth);  Thor,  who,  with  his  mighty  ham- 
mer, Mjolner  (the  crusher),  slew  both  the  frost  and 
mountain  giants  in  the  early  days  of  the  creation,  who 
is  girded  with  the  belt  of  strength  and  endowed  with 
all  the  attributes  of  strength,  courage  and  truth,  who 
controls  the  lightning,  being  god  of  thunder,  and  who 
was  probably  first  suggested  by  contemplation  of  the 


INTRODUCTION". 


xxxiii 


thunder-storm,  as  was  Odin  by  the  broad,  expansive, 
impenetrable  vault  of  heaven ;  about  Balder,  the  pure 
god  of  light,  beauty  and  deliverance;  Balder,  the  be- 
nignant, whom  early  christian  ministers  compared  to 
Christ,  who  was  typical  of  sunshine,  most  beautiful  of 
earthly  things,  and  who  was  son  of  Odin  and  Frigg, 
the  latter  typifying  tender,  loving  Mother  Earth,  the 
cultivated  abode  of  man;  about  the  valkyries,  Odin's 
warrior  maidens,  and  the  norns  Urd  (past),  Verdande 
(present),  and  Skuld  (future),  who  watch  through  life 
over  man,  spinning,  at  his  birth,  the  web  of  his  fate, 
and  who  are  really  more  powerful  than  the  gods  who, 
being  destined  to  die,  are  necessarily  limited  by  time, 
which  is  eternal ;  and  about  all  the  other  fascinating 
points  of  this  grand  and,  until  recently,  little  known 
Norse  Mythology. 

Odin  wore  a  hat  representing  the  arched  vault 
of  heaven,  and  a  blue  variegated  cloak  (the  atmo- 
sphere, both  hat  and  cloak  symbolizing  protection), 
and  perched  on  his  shoulders  were  two  ravens,  Hugin 
(reflection)  and  Munin  (memory),  whom  he  sent  out 
every  morning  early,  to  fly  over  the  world  and  bring 
back  tidings  of  the  doings  of  men.  He  wore  a  ring, 
Draupner,  symbol  of  fertility,  bore  in  his  hand  a  spear, 
Gungner,  symbol  of  power,  and  rode  an  eight-footed 
courser,  fleet  as  the  winds  of  heaven,  whose  name  was 
Sleipner,  and  who,  like  the  winged  Pegasos,  was  enabled 
to  fly  from  the  earth  to  the  abodes  of  the  gods.  Sleip- 
ner is  a  prototype  of  sundry  chargers  who  can  bear 
the  hero  unharmed  through  life,  and  has  been  called 


xxxiv 


ECHOES  FKOM  MIST-LAND. 


the  courser  of  the  poet's  soul.  Odin  had  pawned  his 
eye  (the  sun)  at  Mimer's  fountain  for  a  draught  of 
wisdom  (see  "Norse  Mythology,"  page  230),  and  he  also 
hung  nine  days  on  the  wind-rocked  tree  Ygdrasil,  the 
tree  of  existence,  of  which  the  Germau  Christmas 
tree  is  actually  a  reminder,  and  wounded  himself  with 
his  spear,  consecrating  himself  to  himself;  whereby  he 
learned  crying  all  the  wonderful  mysteries  of  the  Rune 
Songs,  songs  of  wisdom.  This  last  Anderson  beauti- 
fully explains  as  the  consecration  of  the  spirit  in  the 
struggle  for  knowledge  (see  "Norse  Mythology,"  page 
260). 

In  the  creation  of  the  world  this  deity  is  repre- 
sented as  a  trinity  in  the  form  of  Odin  and  his  broth- 
ers, Vile  and  Ve,  the  two  latter  being  mere  emanations 
of  the  being  of  the  first,  proceeding  from  him,  repre- 
senting different  phases  of  his  power.  Here  Odin  was 
the  quickening  spirit,  Vile,  the  arranging  will,  and  Ve, 
sacred  or  vestal  flame,  the  root  of  the  German  Weih- 
nacht  (Christmas),  the  holiness  which  banishes  all  im- 
purity. In  the  creation  of  man  the  divinity  again 
appears  as  a  trinity,  Odin  (spirit)  investing  the  first 
human  pair  with  spiritual  life;  Hcener  (light)  illu- 
mining the  soul  with  understanding;  Loder  (fire)  giv- 
ing warmth  to  the  blood  and  keenness  to  the  senses. 
Loder,  later,  appears  separately  as  Loke,  the  spirit  of 
evil.  In  following  the  history  of  the  gods  Odin,  Hoener 
and  Loke,  asas  as  they  are  called,  as  given  in  the 
Fafnisbane  of  the  Elder  Edda  and  the  Niblungs  and 
Giukungs  of  the  Younger,  we  learn  the  origin  of  the 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXXV 


hoard,  which  plays  so  important  a  part  in  our  lay, 
although  robbed  of  much  of  its  original  significance. 

THE  HOARD. 

The  story  may  be  found  in  Anderson's  "Norse 
Mythology,"  pp.  375-377,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
condensed  version :  Odin,  Hoener  and  Loke,  in  the 
course  of  their  wanderings  through  the  world,  drew 
near  a  cascade,  where  sat  an  otter,  sleepily  devouring 
a  salmon  it  had  caught.  Loke  killed  the  otter  with 
a  stone,  and  gloried  in  his  deed,  for  he  had  thus  cap- 
tured also  the  salmon.  In  the  evening,  when  the  gods 
sought  shelter  at  a  farm-house  on  their  way,  he  car- 
ried with  him  his  booty,  displaying  this  to  show  that 
they  were  supplied  with  provisions.  When  the  owner 
of  the  farm,  Hreidmar,  a  necromancer,  espied  the  otter, 
he  cried  out  that  it  was  his  son  who  had  been  slain, 
and,  together  with  his  other  sons,  Fafner  and  Regin, 
fell  upon  the  gods,  overpowered  and  bound  them. 
The  gods  offered  to  give  whatever  ransom  might  be 
demanded  for  their  lives,  and  so  Hreidmar,  having 
the  otter  flayed,  stipulated  that  its  skin  should  be  both 
filled  and  covered  with  shining  gold.  Sent  by  Odin, 
Loke  sped  in  his  magic  shoes,  the  seven-league  boots 
of  the  fairy  tale,  to  the  home  of  the  swarthy  elves 
where  tarried  the  dwarf  Andvare  (wary,  cautious  spir- 
it), in  the  guise  of  a  fish  in  the  water.  Seizing  him, 
Loke  forced  him  to  yield  up  the  gold  he  kept  hidden 
within  a  rock,  even  wresting  from  him  a  ring  which 
the  dwarf  had  striven  to  retain,  since  with  it  he  could 


xxxvi 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


have  replaced  the  lost  gold.  Andvare  then  pronounced 
a  curse  upon  the  ring,  saying  that  henceforth  it  should 
be  the  bane  of  him  who  possessed  it.  Pleased  with 
this,  as  was  in  accordance  with  his  nature,  Loke  prom- 
ised to  bear  the  words  to  him  who  should  possess  the 
ring.  When  he  had  returned  to  the  farm-house,  and 
the  gold  was  disposed  of  according  to  agreement,  Odin 
strove  to  retain  the  ring,  which  pleased  him;  but 
Hreidmar,  discovering  that  there  was  one  uncovered 
hair  near  the  otter's  mouth,  declared  that  unless  this 
were  covered  the  compact  would  be  broken.  There- 
fore the  ring  was  produced,  the  ransom  complete;  but 
when  Odin  had  taken  his  spear,  Loke  his  shoes,  so 
that  they  had  nothing  more  to  fear,  Loke  said  that 
the  curse  of  Andvare  should  be  fulfilled,  and  that  both 
gold  and  ring  should  be  the  bane  of  their  possessors. 
When  the  gods  had  departed,  Fafner  and  Kegin  de- 
manded their  share  of  the  ransom,  but  their  father  re- 
fusing, Fafner  pierced  him  with  a  sword  while  he  slept, 
then  disappeared  with  the  treasure,  that  his  brother 
Regin  might  have  no  part  therein.  Assuming  the  form 
of  a  monstrous  dragon,  he  lay  on  Gnita  (glittering) 
Heath,  guarding  the  treasure,  known  henceforth  as  the 
hoard,  having  in  his  possession  the  helm  of  terror. 

"From  this  myth  it  is,"  says  Anderson,  "that  gold 
is  poetically  called  otter-ransom.  And  the  curse  was 
fulfilled.  This  curse  of  ill-gotten  gold  became  the  root 
of  a  series  of  mortal  calamities,  which  are  related  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  Elder  Edda,  in  the  songs  about 
Sigurd,  Fafner's  Bane,  or  the  Slayer  of  Fafner;  about 


INTRODUCTION. 


xxxvii 


Brynhild,  about  Gudrun's  Sorrow,  Gudrun's  Revenge, 
in  the  Song  of  A  tie,  etc.  The  curse  on  the  gold,  pro- 
nounced by  Andvare,  the  dwarf,  is  the  grand  moral  in 
these  wonderful  songs,  and  never  was  moral  worked 
out  more  terribly.  Even  Shakespeare  has  no  tragedy 
equal  to  it."  And  again :  "  The  ring  Andvarenaut 
(Andvare's  gift),  as  it  is  called,  symbolizes  wealth, 
which  increases  in  the  hands  of  the  wary,  careful 
Andvare.  But  for  avarice,  that  never  gets  enough,  it 
becomes  a  destructive  curse." 

To  this  may  be  added  that  wisdom,  spirituality  of 
however  elevated  a  nature,  can  never  exercise  supreme 
control  when  wandering  abroad  in  company  with  earth- 
ly desire  and  the  spirit  of  evil.  So  it  is  with  Odin 
when  in  this  combination  with  Hoener  and  Loke,  so 
it  is  in  human  nature,  so  it  is  in  the  forces  which  sur- 
round us,  the  clashing,  ever  contending  forces  of  good 
and  evil.  And  Odin,  with  his  noble  attributes,  is  not 
the  all-overruling  deity  of  the  universe;  there  is  far 
above  him  another  unknown,  mysterious  power,  which 
shall  rule  supreme  with  Balder  in  the  regenerated 
earth,  when  Odin  shall  have  gone  to  meet  the  Fenris- 
wolf  in  Kagnarok,  the  twilight  of  the  gods,  that  is, 
?the  final  conflict  of  good  and  evil.  Then  will  the 
curse  be  removed  from  gold,  which  in  its  purity,  sym- 
bolizing innocence,  was  the  plaything  of  the  gods. 
(For  the  history  of  Ragnarok  and  Regeneration,  see 
■"Norse  Mythology,"  pages  413-436.) 

Dr.  Jordan,  in  his  Nibelunge,  traces  the  jewels  and 
precious  metals  of  the  hoard  to  the  upper  valley  of 


XXXviii  ECHOES  FEOM  MIST-LAND. 


the  Rhine,  where  they  were  extracted  from  the  bowels 
of  the  earth  by  the  vassals  of  King  Schilbung,  whose 
brother  Aldrian,  afterward  called  Niblung  (from  nebel, 
mist  —  Niflheim,  the  nebulous  world),  having  long 
striven  in  vain  to  despoil  him  of  his  possessions,  over- 
came and  slew  him  through  the  magic  power  he  had 
gained  from  a  ring  he  wore.  This  ring  was  formed 
like  a  serpent  with  its  tail  in  its  mouth,  it  had  ruby 
eyes,  and  had  been  given  Niblung  in  exchange  for  the 
promise  of  his  daughter  Gotelind's  hand,  by  Gunth- 
wurm,  a  noble  prince  in  serpent's  guise.  In  dying, 
Schilbung  returned  a  mortal  blow  to  his  brother,  hew- 
ing off  the  latter's  hand,  thus  depriving  him  of  ring 
and  power.  On  his  wedding  day,  Gunthwurm  had  pre- 
sented his  wife's  brothers  with  costly  rings,  the  sisters 
with  bracelets,  all  of  the  Rhine  gold,  telling  them  that 
should  each  be  content  with  the  article  given  him  or 
her  it  would  prove  a  blessing,  and  would  otherwise 
be  worse  than  death.  But  alas!  from  the  first,  each 
trinket  appeared  lustreless  and  worthless  to  its  pos- 
sessor, while  all  the  rest  seemed  brilliant  and  desira- 
ble. Hopeless  strife  ensued,  the  trinkets  having  re- 
peatedly exchanged  hands,  and  with  the  downfall  of 
the  father,  a  flood  of  mighty  waters  flooded  the  castle, 
on  the  face  of  which  arose  a  hideous  serpent,  who  with 
voice  of  thunder  pronounced  upon  the  foolish  mal- 
contents a  curse,  condemning  the  men  to  live  thence- 
forth as  fish,  the  women  as  mermaidens,  in  the  waters; 
and  thus  they  are  forever  seeking  their  lost  treasures 
which,  with  the  rest  of  the  Rhine  gold,  were  carefully 


INTRODUCTION. 


xxxix 


accumulated  by  the  prudent  dwarf  Andvare,  as  we  have 
seen.  The  ring  was  given  by  Sigurd,  as  Siegfried  is 
called  in  the  Norse  version  of  the  tale,  to  Brynhild 
(Brunhild),  in  token  of  betrothal  on  awakening  her 
from  her  long  sleep;  and  this  is  the  ring  which  our 
Kiug  Grunther's  queen  wore,  and  which  was  the  cause 
of  such  dire  misfortune. 

The  story  of  Schilbung  and  Nibelung,  in  the  lay 
about  to  be  offered  to  the  reader's  contemplation,  is 
undoubtedly  derived  from  this  earlier  version,  and  the 
dwarf  Alberich  may  be  recognized  as  at  least  of  kin 
to  Andvare.  Hagen,  according  to  Jordan,  is  descended 
directly  from  Gunthwurm  and  Gotelind,  which  accounts 
for  his  being  called  the  son  of  Aldrian,  and  shows 
him  to  have  a  birthright  in  the  name  Niblung,  or 
Nibelungen  knight,  which  was  bestowed  afterward  upon 
him  and  his  sister's  sons,  as  it  had  been  upon  Sieg- 
fried, with  the  possession  of  the  hoard.  Siegfried's 
ancestors,  the  Volsungs,  from  whom  also,  according 
to  Jordan,  the  Burgundian  kings  are  descended  on 
the  father's  side,  remain,  like  the  gods,  unmentioned 
in  our  lay.  Here,  too,  the  hoard  loses  its  full  original 
import,  partly  because  this  too  strongly  savored  of 
paganism,  partly  because  interest  is  so  largely  centered 
in  Kriemhild's  revenge  for  the  death  of  Siegfried,  a 
passion  based  on  her  strong  fidelity,  and  indulged  in 
until  her  once  lovely  nature  becomes  transformed  into 
that  of  a  demon.  She  does  not  purpose  at  first  the 
destruction  of  any  but  her  arch-enemy  Hagen,  but 
the  spirit  of  evil,  by  her  set  afloat,  grows  and  gains 


xl 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


strength  until  all  are  overcome  by  its  power.  Kriem- 
hild  herself  perishes  in  the  great  massacre,  but  not 
until  the  hoard,  the  accursed,  which  although  no 
longer  the  main  motive  power,  gives  abundant  evi- 
dence of  its  mischievous  nature,  is  the  cause  of  her 
having  Gunther,  the  last  remaining  brother,  beheaded, 
and  herself  bringing  his  head  to  Hagen.  This  is 
the  subject  of  one  of  Schnorr's  most  powerful  crea- 
tions. The  frenzied  queen  stands  holding  the  bloody 
trophy  by  the  hair,  her  whole  moral  state  depicted 
with  masterly  strokes,  horror  at  the  result  of  her 
own  deeds  blended  with  her  demon-like  fury,  and 
Hagen  has  fallen  backward,  overcome  by  hideous  dis- 
may as  never  he  had  been  or  could  be  by  foe  in 
battle.  The  attitudes  and  expressions  are  surpass- 
ingly fine,  and  we  thought  wistfully  of  this  master- 
piece when  we  saw  the  tame  scene,  in  which  a  ser- 
vant presents  the  head  on  a  charger,  given  as  illustra- 
tion in  the  admirably  told,  although  wretchedly  illus- 
trated, synopsis  of  the  Nibelungen  Lay  in  a  recent 
number  of  "  Harper's  Monthly."  The  Kriemhild  of  the 
Edda,  Gudrun,  endeavors  to  warn  her  brothers  when 
greed  for  gold  leads  her  second  husband  Atle,  who 
there  corresponds  with  Etzel,  to  invite  them  to  the 
mysterious  Hunaland,  and  her  terrible  revenge  is 
upon  Atle.  Morris,  however,  has  preferred  to  use  the 
German  version. 

BALDER  AND  THE  MISTLETOE. 

The  divine  prototype  for  Siegfried  is  unquestion- 
ably represented  in  the  story  of  Balder,  the  beloved 


INTRODUCTION. 


of  all  nature,  of  gods  and  of  men.  He  was  tormented 
by  terrible  dreams,  indicating  that  his  life  was  in  great 
peril,  which  the  assembled  gods,  to  whom  the  dream 
was  communicated,  resolved  to  avert,  and  his  mother, 
Frigg,  extracted  a  solemn  oath  from  everything  that 
lives  and  grows  upon  earth  that  her  bright  hero 
should  not  be  harmed  by  them.  The  mistletoe  alone, 
the  thorn  of  winter,  growing  on  trees,  not  upon  the 
earth,  had  been  forgotten,  and  put  by  Loke  (the  spirit 
of  evil)  into  the  hands  of  blind  Hoder  (darkness)  caused 
Balder's  death.  (For  particulars,  see  "Norse  Mytholo- 
gy," pages  280-297.)  Of  this  myth,  Max  Miiller  says: 
"The  idea  of  a  young  hero,  whether  he  is  called 
Balder,  Siegfried,  Sigurd  or  Achilles,  dying  in  the  full- 
ness of  youth,  a  story  so  frequently  told,  localized,  in- 
dividualized, was  first  suggested  by  the  sun  dying  in 
all  his  youthful  vigor,  either  at  the  end  of  the  day, 
conquered  by  the  powers  of  darkness,  or  at  the  end  of 
a  season,  stung  by  the  thorn  of  winter.  Again  that 
fatal  spell,  by  which  these  sunny  heroes  must  leave 
their  first  love,  become  unfaithful  to  her  or  she  to 
them,  was  borrowed  from  nature.  The  fate  of  these 
solar  heroes  was  inevitable,  and  it  was  their  lot  to  die 
by  the  hand  or  by  the  unwilling  treachery  of  their 
nearest  friends  or  relations.  The  Sun  forsakes  the 
Dawn,  and  dies  at  the  end  of  the  day  according  to  an 
inexorable  fate,  and  bewailed  by  the  whole  of  nature. 
Or  the  sun  is  the  Sun  of  Spring,  who  woos  the  Earth, 
and  then  forsakes  his  bride  and  grows  cold,  and  is 
killed  at  last  by  the  thorn  of  winter." 


xlii 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


But  as  completion  of  the  interpretation,  E.  B.  Ander- 
son's testimony  must  be  heard.  "It  would  be  resting 
satisfied  with  the  shell,"  says  he,  "  to  interpret  Balder 
as  the  mere  impersonation  of  the  natural  light  of 
heaven.  He  represents  and  symbolizes  in  the  profound- 
est  sense  the  heavenly  light  of  the  soul  and  of  the 
mind,  purity,  innocence,  piety.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
that  our  ancestors  combined  the  ethical  with  the  phys- 
ical in  this  myth.  All  light  comes  from  heaven.  The 
natural  light  shines  into  and  illuminates  the  eye,  the 
spiritual  shines  into  and  illuminates  the  heart.  Inno- 
cence cannot  be  wounded.  Arrogance  and  jealousy 
throw  their  pointed  arrows  of  slander  at  it,  but  they 
fall  harmless  to  the  ground.  But  there  is  one  incli- 
nation, one  unguarded  spot  among  our  other  strongly- 
guarded  passions.  The  mischief-maker  knows  how  to 
find  this,  and  innocence  is  pierced." 

In  his  "  Sigurd  the  Volsung,"  Morris  thus  likens  his 
hero,  who  will  be  readily  found  to  be  identical  with 
our  Siegfried,  to  Balder: 

"  Now  Sigurd  backetli  Greyfell  on  the  first  of  the  morrow  morn, 
And  he  rideth  fair  and  softly  through  the  acres  of  the  corn; 
The  Wrath  to  his  side  is  girded,  but  hid  are  the  edges  blue, 
As  he  wendeth  his  ways  to  the  mountains,  and  rideth  the 

horse-mead  through. 
His  wide  grey  eyes  are  happy,  and  his  voice  is  sweet  and  soft, 
As  amid  the  mead-lark's  singing  he  casteth  song  aloft: 
Lo,  lo,  the  horse  and  the  rider!    So  once  maybe  it  was, 
When  over  the  Earth  unpeopled  the  youngest  God  would  pass; 
But  never  again  meseemeth  shall  such  a  sight  betide, 
Till  over  a  world  unwrongrful  new-born  shall  Balder  ride." 


INTRODUCTION. 


xliii 


FREY  AND  GERD. 

But  the  complete  germ  of  the  Siegfried  story  is 
to  be  found  chiefly  in  the  Edda  song  of  For  Skir- 
nis  (the  journey  of  Skirner).  Frey,  the  god  of  fer- 
tility and  spring,  who  is  really  one  type  of  the  Sun- 
god,  from  his  lofty  abode  gazed  down  upon  Jotunheim 
(the  home  of  the  giants),  where  he  beheld  the  maiden 
Gerd,  whose  white  arms  radiated  such  brilliancy  that 
air  and  waters  were  illumined  thereby.  Filled  with 
love  and  tender  yearning  for  this  daughter  of  the 
giants,  who  is  evidently  the  earth  or  the  seed  within 
the  earth,  like  Persephone,  in  the  thralldom  of  winter, 
Frey  sent  his  messenger,  Skirner  (the  radiant  one),  into 
the  nether  world  to  woo  and  release  her  for  him,  lend- 
ing him  for  the  purpose  his  horse  (the  Sun-horse) 
and  his  sword  (the  Sun-beam) ;  but  Gerd,  unmindful 
of  the  bright  future  in  store  for  her  long  resisted  the 
promises  extended  to  her  of  golden  harvests  and  of 
the  ring,  symbol  of  abundance,  before  she  would  con- 
sent to  yield  to  Frey's  love  and  promise  that  her 
union  with  him  should  take  place  in  the  green  grove, 
that  is,  springtime.  The  myth  has  a  double  form, 
its  completion  being  found  in  another  Edda  song,  in 
which  the  god  himself,  there  called  Swipdag  (hastener 
of  the  day)  undertakes  the  journey  to  arouse  from  the 
winter  sleep  the  cold  giant  nature  of  the  maiden  Men- 
glod  (the  sun-radiant  daughter),  whom  Grimm  makes 
identical  with  Freyja  (the  goddess  of  spring  promise, 
or  of  love  between  man  and  woman),  and  whom  we 
can  readily  compare  with  Gerd.    Before  the  bonds 


Xliv  ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 

which  enchain  the  maiden  can  in  either  case  be 
broken,  Bele  (the  giant  of  spring  storms,  correspond- 
ing to  the  dragon  of  later  development)  must  be  con- 
quered, and  Wafurloge  (the  wall  of  flickering  flames 
which  surrounded  the  castle)  must  be  penetrated.  These 
flames  indicate  the  funeral  pyre,  for  whoever  enters 
the  nether  world  must  scorn  the  fear  of  death. 

R.  B.  Anderson,  in  his  account  of  Frey  and  Gerd 
(pages  348-360),  very  poetically  traces  the  spiritual 
significance  of  the  myth  to  love,  with  all  its  longings 
and  hopes,  interpreting  it  thus:  "As  the  warmth  of 
the  sun  develops  the  seed,  love  develops  the  heart; 
love  is  the  ray  of  light  (Skirner)  sent  from  heaven, 
which  animates  and  ennobles  the  clump  of  earth.  Gerd 
is  the  maid,  who  is  engaged  in  earthly  affairs,  and 
does  not  yet  realize  anything  nobler  than  her  every- 
day cares.  Then  love  calls  her;  in  her  breast  awakens 
a  new  life;  wonderful  dreams,  like  gentle  breezes,  em- 
brace her,  and  when  the  dreams  grow  into  conscious- 
ness her  eyes  are  opened  to  a  higher  sphere  of  exist- 
ence." This  myth  is  reflected  in  the  old  Norse  romance 
of  Fridthjof 's  Saga,  one  version  of  which  appeared  in 
the  same  volume  with  Anderson's  own  recently  pub- 
lished translation  of  the  fascinating  "Viking  Tales  of 
the  North." 

It  is  an  interesting  fact,  in  comparing  this  myth 
with  the  later  Siegfried,  or  Sigurd,  Saga,  that  Frey  is 
said  to  possess  a  ship,  known  as  Skidbladner  (ship  of 
the  universe),  which  in  a  favorable  breeze  glides  swiftly 
to  its  place  of  destination,  having  room  on  board  for 


INTRODUCTION. 


xlv 


all  the  gods,  with  their  weapons  and  war  stores,  and 
which,  when  not  required  for  use,  can  be  folded  into 
the  most  minute  compass,  even  rendered  invisible.  Dr. 
Jordan,  in  his  Epic  Letters,  compares  it  to  the  clouds, 
"swift  sailors  of  the  air,"  and  reminds  us  that  both 
the  Tarnkappe  and  the  mysterious  vessel  in  which 
Siegfried  fared  to  the  Nibelungen  land  signified,  origi- 
nally, the  veiling  of  mist  in  which  the  warm  spring 
air  first  penetrated  the  cold  regions  of  the  North. 

THE  SLEEPING  BEAUTY. 

In  the  older  form  of  the  hero  saga  of  Sigurd,  or 
Siegfried,  as  contained  in  the  Edda,  the  ride  through 
the  flickering  flames,  "wavering  fire,"  as  Morris  calls 
it,  is  a  double  one,  Sigurd  riding  once  for  himself, 
and  once  for  his  friend  Gunnar  (Gunther),  whose  form 
he  had  assumed,  to  arouse  and  win  Sigdrifa,  called, 
later,  Brynhild,  a  valkyrie,  one  of  Odin's  war  maidens, 
who,  because  of  disobedience  to  Allfather's  commands, 
had  been  pricked  with  the  sleep-thorn  and  condemned 
to  cease  being  a  valkyrie  and  to  wed  a  mortal  man. 
Him  only  should  she  wed,  however,  who  had  courage 
to  penetrate  the  flame  wall  raised  up  by  Odin  himself 
about  her  castle  and  awaken  the  sleeper. 

Now,  in  the  myth,  as  we  have  seen,  the  god  mar- 
ries the  goddess,  for  whose  sake  he  conquered  giant 
and  fire;  and  in  order  that  the  saga  should  be  a  pre- 
cise mirror  of  it,  the  hero  should  have  married  the 
maiden  whom  he  rescued.  In  fact,  this  is  the  case 
in  a  later  German  saga  called  the  "  Horned  Siegfried," 


xlvi 


ECHOES  FltOM  MIST-LAND. 


where  the  hero  delivers  the  maiden,  Kriemhild,  from 
the  power  of  a  monstrous  and  hideous  dragon,  who, 
although  a  great  prince  in  disguise,  is  hateful  to  her, 
bears  her  home  in  triumph  to  her  father's  mansion  and 
marries  her.  As  we  find  the  materials  in  the  Niflunga 
and  Volsunga  saga  of  the  North  and  the  German 
Nibelungen  cycle,  as  contained  in  our  lay,  the  rescued 
maiden  is  divided  into  the  two  secondary  forms  of 
Brunhild  and  Kriemhild.  To  awaken  Brynhild  (our 
Brunhild)  for  himself  was  the  purport  of  Sigurd's  first 
ride  through  the  flames;  when  he  undertook  the  enter- 
prise a  second  time,  for  his  friend  and  comrade,  it  was 
in  view  of  winning  the  hand  of  Kriemhild,  or  Gudrun, 
as  Gunnar's  sister,  in  the  Norse  versions,  is  called.  The 
sundering  of  the  maiden  into  two  forms  corresponds 
with  the  twofold  ride  in  the  myth,  and  is  indicated 
in  our  lay,  as  well  as  in  the  Norse  form,  by  the  quarrel 
of  the  queens  which  led  to  the  beloved  hero's  death. 
In  the  myth,  too,  we  learn  that  the  radiant  one,  Frey, 
fell  victim  to  the  powers  of  darkness.  His  first  fight, 
that  with  Bele,  the  spring  giant,  had  been  a  successful 
conquering  of  the  early  storm-winds ;  his  second  one,  in 
which  he  falls,  was  with  the  storm-winds  of  approach- 
ing winter,  which  could  not  be  withstood.  The  eagles 
of  Kriemhild's  dream  are  winter  giants,  whose  wont 
it  was  to  transform  themselves  into  eagles,  while  the 
pure  gods  were  in  the  habit  of  assuming  the  falcon's 
form.  The  well-known  favorite  of  German  folk-lore, 
the  Sleeping  Beauty,  is,  of  course,  derived  from  the 
story  of  the  flame-surrounded  sleeping  valkyrie.  Ten- 


INTRODUCTION. 


xlvii 


nyson  has  used  it  for  one  of  his  most  charming  poems, 
but  the  graceful  beauty  of  the  latter  pales  before  the 
rich,  glowing  imagery  of  the  description  of  the  ride 
through  the  "wavering  fire"  and  the  awakening  of  the 
glorious  war  maiden,  given  by  both  Jordan  and  Mor- 
ris. 

In  our  lay,  Brunhild  sinks  into  insignificance  after 
the  death  of  Siegfried;  in  fact,  she  is  never  so  grand  a 
character  as  we  find  her  in  the  Norse  versions,  where 
she  was  definitely  shown  to  have  been  forsaken  by 
her  first  awakener  (this  being  merely  hinted  at  in  our 
lay),  who  had  received  a  draught  of  forgetfulness  from 
the  hand  of  the  mother  of  the  bride  whom  he  weds. 
Both  Jordan  and  Morris  have  her  reunited  with  her 
lover  in  death,  showing  how  she  died  upon  his  funeral 
pyre,  pierced  by  her  own  hand  with  his  sword,  and 
among  the  grandest  flights  of  Jordan's  fancy  is  his 
picture  of  the  reconcilement  of  the  parted  queens  over 
the  body  of  their  slain  love,  also  that  of  their  final 
purification  through  the  ordeal  of  direst  affliction. 

SIGURD. 

Sigurd,  this  Siegfried  of  the  North,  is  shown  to 
us  in  the  Yolsunga  Saga  as  the  son  of  King  Sieg- 
mund,  of  Frankenland,  or  Hunaland,  and  Hiordis, 
born  unto  the  latter  in  Denmark  (the  land  of  the 
Helper),  where  she  took  refuge  after  Siegmund  was 
slain.  Hunaland  was  the  inheritance  of  the  Vol- 
sungs,  of  whose  race  Siegmund  was,  and  seems  to  in- 
dicate some  mysterious,  unknown  land.    It  was  later 


xlviii 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


that  it  came  to  be  blended  with  the  historical  land 
of  the  Huns,  assigned  to  Etzel,  although  in  many  cases 
it  was  used  to  denote  Germany.  In  the  land  of  the 
Helper,  Sigurd  is  placed  under  the  guidance  of  the 
master-smith  Begin,  who  is  none  other  than  the  brother 
of  the  great  "gold  wallower,"  as  Morris  calls  Fafner,  to 
whose  death  the  master  incites  his  pupil,  forging  him 
for  the  purpose  the  sword  Gram  (the  Wrath),  from  the 
broken  pieces  of  the  sword  of  Siegmund,  Odin's  gift. 
Sigurd  decides  first  to  avenge  his  father's  death  on 
Hunding's  sons,  journeys  to  their  land  in  a  vessel 
guided  by  Allfather  himself,  overcomes  and  slays  them. 
It  is  a  most  singular  fact  that  Morris  has  overlooked 
this  important  point  in  the  story  on  which  his  poem 
is  founded.  Then  Sigurd  betakes  himself  to  the  Glit- 
tering Heath,  slays  the  guardian  of  the  hoard,  thus 
becoming  its  possessor,  eats  of  the  dragon's  heart, 
which  enables  him  to  understand  the  language  of 
birds,  swift  messengers  of  thought  and  far-distant 
occurrences,  and  then  he  sallies  forth  to  the  awaken- 
ing of  Brynhild.  Sigurd  rides  the  horse  Grane  (Grey- 
fell),  direct  descendant  of  Sleipner,  sent  to  him  by 
Odin.  Grane  was  named  for  his  long  mane  (granus 
meaning  bearded).  His  hair  as  well  as  his  mane  sig- 
nify sunbeams,  and  he  is  identical  with  the  sun-charger. 
The  sword,  too,  is  like  the  sword  of  Frey,  and  appears 
in  our  lay  as  Balmung;  the  horse  is,  unluckily,  men- 
tioned by  no  name,  but  Siegfried  rides  a  horse  of 
which  Schnorr  gives  a  noble  representation.  Morris, 
in  his  splendid  picture  of  the  birth  of  Sigurd,  hails 


INTRODUCTION. 


xlix 


him  as  Dawn  of  the  Day,  and  has  his  name  given  to 
him  for  victory  yet  to  be.  Our  name  Siegfried  means, 
literally,  a  blending  of  victory  and  peace,  as  Siegmund 
means  the  mouth  of  victory,  the  victory-wafter.  The 
legend  of  St.  George  and  the  Dragon  is  an  outgrowth 
of  the  Siegfried  story. 

HAGEN  AND  VOLKER. 

Hagen  (prickly  thorn)  is  described  in  the  Vilkina 
Saga  and  the  Latin  poem  Walther  as  having  but  one 
eye,  the  other  having  been  lost  in  the  strife  with 
Walther.  This  idea  is  different  from  that  pertaining 
to  the  eye  which  was  pawned  in  the  Fountain  of 
Wisdom;  it  reminds  us  of  the  Cyclops,  and  originat- 
ed through  Hagen's  descent  from  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness, a  representative  of  his  prototype  being  the  blind 
Hoder,  who  with  the  mistletoe  slew  Balder.  Our  lay 
makes  no  mention  of  this,  as  it  would  be  inconsistent 
with  the  grandeur  to  which  here  the  character  of 
Hagen  is  permitted  to  rise.  As  in  the  character  of 
Kriemhild  is  shown  how  a  hitherto  innocent  maiden 
may  be  transformed  into  a  blood-thirsty  monster,  so 
in  the  character  of  Hagen  is  shown  how  one  who 
remains  true  to  his  highest  conception  of  duty  (for 
such  was  his  devotion  to  his  liege  lords),  even  to  the 
extent  of  taking  upon  himself  the  consequences  of 
crime,  must  inevitably  rise  to  tragic  greatness,  even 
to  a  certain  degree  of  nobility.  In  his  friendship  for 
Volker  lie  the  elements  of  his  power ;  Volker,  that  gen- 
uine creation  of  the  Germans,  who,  as  a  people,  so  well 


1 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


understand  the  power  of  music  in  inspiring  to  deeds  of 
greatness.  Jordan  has  beautifully  portrayed  the  char- 
acter of  Volker,  calling  up  before  the  mind's  eye  of 
his  readers  a  living  king  of  the  violin,  tenderly  hand- 
ling his  instrument;  yet  we  doubt  whether  there  exists 
a  grander  picture  than  that  of  Hagen  and  Volker 
in  our  lay,  inseparably  united,  defying  death  together, 
smiting  the  fiend  with  giant  strokes  accompanied  by 
music.  In  the  Edda,  it  is  King  Gunnar  himself 
who  is  endowed  with  musical  gifts,  and  elsewhere 
we  find  Horand  the  Harper.  In  the  Edda,  too,  it 
was  Gun nar's  brother,  Guttorm,  who  slew  the  bright 
hero,  Guttorm  meaning  Gunthwurm;  the  connection 
with  Hagen  may  readily  be  traced.  Last  of  all,  in  the 
journey  to  the  land  of  the  Huns,  given  in  our  lay, 
Hagen,  in  ferrying  the  hosts  over  to  the  unknown 
land,  becomes,  in  some  sort,  a  type  of  death,  and  the 
destruction  of  the  vessel  is  a  constant  feature  of  simi- 
lar traditions. 

HISTORICAL  AND  GEOGRAPHICAL. 

Thus  we  have  seen  that  there  are  two  essentially 
different  forms  of  the  Nibelungen  Saga:  1,  Low  or 
North  German,  more  accurately  speaking,  Saxon,  pre- 
served in  the  Edda  Hero-Songs  and  in  the  Old  Norse 
monuments  related  thereto;  and,  2,  High  or  South 
German,  as  found  in  the  Nibelungen  Lay  and  the 
songs  upon  which  it  was  directly  based.  Both  pro- 
ceeded originally  from  one  source,  each  attaining  dis- 
tinct individuality  through  the  impress  of  the  locali- 
ties through  which  it  was  led  to  wander. 


INTRODUCTION. 


li 


Two  occurrences  of  the  fifth  century  lent  their 
influence  to  the  High  German  materials.  During  the 
year  436-7,  the  Burgundian  king  Gundicar,  the  capital 
city  of  whose  kingdom  was  Worms,  was  overcome 
and  slain,  with  twenty  thousand  of  his  followers,  by 
a  division  of  the  Huns  under  the  Roman  leader 
iEtius.  Also,  in  the  year  453,  Attila,  king  of  the 
Huns,  called  the  Scourge  of  God,  died  suddenly  on 
his  bridal  night  with  fair  Ildiko,  the  Ostrogoths  be- 
ing shortly  thereafter  freed  from  the  Huunish  yoke. 
These  events  made  a  deep  impression  on  the  people 
of  South  Germany,  and  busy  tradition,  ever  on  the 
alert  for  poetic  justice,  attributing  Attila's  death  to 
his  bride,  assumed  the  murderous  deed  to  have  been 
wrought  by  her  to  avenge  the  destruction  of  the  Bur- 
gundians,  although  it  was  historically  untrue  that 
they  fell  directly  through  Attila.  Then,  following  its 
tendency  to  combine  mythic  and  real  personages  and 
facts,  tradition  blended  these  new  materials  with  previ- 
ously existing  stores,  and  thus  was  created  the  char- 
acter of  King  Etzel,  who  will  be  seen  to  play  a  com- 
paratively tame  role,  merely  the  fruits  of  his  past 
deeds  of  greatness  being  visible. 

It  was  upward  of  a  century  later  that  legendary 
lore  came  to  identify  the  mythic  Dietrich  with  The- 
odoric  the  Great,  who  did  not  fight  his  great  battle  of 
Verona  until  489,  thirty-six  years  after  Attila's  death. 
Thenceforth  Dietrich  of  Bern  assumed  a  position  of 
great  power  in  the  Nibelungen  story.  The  character 
of  Siegfried  is,  in  the  main,  uninfluenced  by  history, 


lii 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


although  pains  have  been  taken  to  trace  points  of 
resemblance  to  the  Austrasian  Siegbert,  or  Siegobart, 
who  was  murdered  in  the  year  575.  Siegfried's  father, 
Siegmund,  the  good  old  king  of  the  Netherlands,  is 
greatly  shorn  of  the  glory  which  surrounded  the  Vol- 
sung  hero  whose  name  he  bears,  and  yet,  as  is  the 
case  with  King  Etzel,  we  find  in  his  character  traces 
of  former  greatness. 

The  names  Gibica  and  Gislaher,  corresponding  with 
Gibich  and  Giselher,  stand  in  Burgundian  chronicles  in 
close  relationship  with  Gundicar,  or  Gundaher.  In  our 
lay,  Dankrat  (in  older  songs  known  as  father  to  their 
father  Gibich)  is  spoken  of  as  father  to  the  kings,  and 
the  mother  of  the  latter,  having  bequeathed  her  ori- 
ginal name,  Grimhild,  or  Kriemhild,  to  her  daughter 
Gudrun,  receives  the  revered  ancestress  name  of  cele- 
brated tribes  Ute,  called  also  Uota,  or,  as  given  by 
Jordan,  Guta. 

Worms  is  a  city  of  unknown  antiquity,  and  derives 
its  name  from  the  dragon  or  worm  (Lintwurm)  which 
Siegfried  slew,  the  figure  of  which  formed  the  ancient 
city  arms,  as  did  that  of  the  ficlele  the  arms  of  the 
house  of  Alzey.  In  times  past,  there  was  shown  at 
Worms  many  a  memorial  of  Siegfried;  among  other 
things,  in  the  cathedral,  a  lance  or  spear  of  some 
eighty  feet  in  length,  known  as  Siegfried's  spear,  and 
a  gigantic  statue  of  the  hero;  also  a  grave,  purport- 
ing to  be  his,  was  shown  in  the  church  of  St.  Ce- 
cilia. When  the  emperor  Frederick  III  (1440-1493) 
visited  Worms  after  his  Netherlands   campaign,  he 


INTRODUCTION. 


liii 


undertook  to  have  the  mighty  hero's  bones  disin- 
terred, probably  in  view  of  proving  the  truth  of  the 
marvelous  story  then  sung  throughout  Germany,  but 
although  he  had  the  ground  dug  into  until  water 
streamed  forth,  no  traces  of  these  became  manifest. 
The  Rose  Garden,  an  enchanted  spot  just  outside  of 
Worms,  is  associated  with  one  of  the  legends  of  Sieg- 
fried and  Kriemhild;  and  on  the  Drachenfels  (Drag- 
on's Rock)  is  to  this  day  shown  the  spot  where  was 
supposed  to  have  occurred  the  fight  with  the  dragon. 

Brunhild's  home,  Isenland,  sometimes  called  Iss- 
land,  was  doubtless  the  Ysselland  of  the  Middle  Ages, 
the  present  province  of  the  upper  Yssel, —  not  Iceland, 
as  has  been  erroneously  stated.  Jordan  makes  his 
heroes  sail  a  few  hours  westward  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Elbe,  out  into  the  North  Sea,  to  reach  Bralund, 
the  home  of  his  Warrior  Queen.  It  were  vain  to  in- 
quire into  the  precise  locality  of  the  Nibelungen  land, 
so  unquestionably  the  land  of  mist  and  obscurity. 
"  Far  beyond  the  firm  horizon,"  says  Carlyle,  "  that 
wonder-bearing  region  swims  on  the  infinite  waters, 
at  most,  discerned  as  a  faint  streak,  hanging  in  the 
blue  depths,  uncertain  whether  island  or  cloud." 

CONCLUSION. 

Unquestionably  all  important  social  and  national 
changes  are  reflected  in  the  myths  of  a  people,  and 
must  be  considered,  if  we  would  rightly  comprehend 
the  development  of  these.  Those  of  our  readers  who 
care  to  follow  the  clue  we  have  endeavored  to  give, 


liv 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


will  find  opened  before  them  a  wide  and  most  inter- 
esting field  of  thought.  The  mighty  problem  of  the 
conflict  of  Good  and  Evil,  first  known  as  a  spiritual 
development  of  the  conflict  of  Light  and  Darkness,  oc- 
cupies the  world's  mind  to-day  as  fully  as  it  did  in 
the  old  days  of  Iran,  or  in  the  poetic,  dreamy  days 
of  German  and  Norse  paganism;  and  the  same  idea 
of  the  final  triumph  of  the  Good,  blindly  groped  after 
and  grasped  by  our  forefathers,  is  brought  again  into 
prominence  by  the  light  of  advanced  christian  civil- 
ization and  modern  science.  It  were  impossible  to 
believe  in  the  Divine  Love,  of  which  we  have  such 
manifold  evidences  in  the  great  heart  which  surely 
exists  in  nature,  as  each  fresh  reading  of  the  pages  of 
the  latter  plainly  testifies,  without  receiving  the  com- 
forting assurance  that  all  and  everything  must  tend 
to  the  eventual  good  of  the  whole,  and  that  the  Good 
must  prevail  in  the  end. 

Lastly,  it  were  well  to  state  that  Jordan,  Morris 
and  other  recent  authorities  give  the  names  of  their 
characters  thus:  Krimhild,  Sigf'rid  (Sigurd),  Sigmund, 
Gisler,  the  Niblungs,  etc.  This  simplified  mode  of 
spelling  doubtless  helps  bring  the  bearers  of  the 
names  near  to  us,  and  makes  us  realize  that  they  are 
our  own  kith  and  kin,  yet,  since  as  we  bring  them  for- 
ward they  are  in  the  phase  illustrated  by  Schnorr,  we 
have  thought  it  best  to  retain  the  spelling  usually  at- 
tached to  the  engravings  from  his  works. 


BOOK  I. 


FIRST  ADVENTURE. 

HOW  KRIEMHILD  DREAMED  A  DREAM. 

THERE  dwelt  in  the  land  of  the  Burgundians, 
long  ages  ago,  a  noble  maiden,  than  whom  no 
other  maiden  in  the  world  was  more  beautiful. 
Kriemhild  was  her  name,  and  she  grew  up  at  the 
court  of  Worms  on  the  Rhine,  trained  to  every 
virtue,  under  the  protection  of  her  royal  brothers, 
Gunther,  Gemot  and  young  Giselher,  three  kings, 
noble,  valiant  and  rich. 

Their  father  had  been  a  powerful  sovereign,  and 
when  he  died  his  enormous  possessions  had  reverted 
to  his  three  sons.  Gunther,  being  the  eldest,  took 
precedence  in  the  rule,  and  sat  on  King  Dankrat's 
throne.  Dame  Ute  was  their  mother,  a  wealthy 
queen,  and  gifted,  as  we  shall  see,  with  far-seeing 
eyes. 

Many  mighty  vassals,  all  warriors  of  renown,  did 
homage  to  their  liege  lords  at  the  court  of  Worms. 
There  was  Hagen,  of  Tronje,  uncle  to  the  royal 
brethren ;  Hagen's  brother,  Dankwart,  the  swift,  who 
was  chief  marshal ;  their  nephew,  Ortwin,  of  Metz, 
who  was  lord  steward,  and  Volker,  of  Alzey.  The 
latter  was  surnamed  the  "  Fiddler-good,"  because  he 


2 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


could  evoke  such  marvelous  strains  from  the  fidele, 
or  viol ;  but,  be  it  here  observed,  he  could  wield 
his  bow,  the  far-famed  sword  Fiddlebow,  one  side 
of  which  was  a  keen-edged  sword,  equally  well  in 
beating  strange  music  on  the  helmets  of  his  enemies 
in  battle.  Besides  these  there  were  the  Margraves 
Gere  and  Eckewart ;  Rumold,  the  caterer;  Sinold, 
the  cup-bearer,  and  Hunold,  the  chamberlain,  all 
champions  brave  and  true.  Were  effort  made  to 
give  full  tidings  of  all  the  courtly  honors,  wide- 
spread power,  lofty  worth  and  prowess  rare  which 
these  noble  masters  joyously  exercised  their  lives 
long,  this  tale  would  have  no  end. 

One  night  Kriemhild  dreamed  that  she  was 
caressing  a  falcon,  strong,  beautiful  and  wild,  when 
two  eagles,  suddenly  sweeping  down  upon  it,  snatched 
it  from  her  and  tore  it  to  pieces  before  her  eyes. 
Greater  anguish  had  she  never  known,  and  when 
morning  broke  she  told  her  dream  to  her  mother, 
who  interpreted  it. 

"  The  falcon,"  said  dame  ITte,  "  is  a  noble  knight, 
who  will  one  day  seek  you  for  his  bride.  Those 
eagles  are  his  enemies.  May  heaven  shield  him,  or 
he  will  come  to  an  untimely  end ! " 

Then  Kriemhild  vehemently  protested  that  she 
would  never  marry;  that  if  through  love  of  man 
such  woe  must  enter  her  beautiful  life,  she  would 
guard  well  against  it. 

"Nay,  forswear  not  love  and  marriage  so,  my 
child,"  the  anxious  mother  said.  "If  ever  you  find 
heartfelt  joy  in  life,  it  will  be  through  brave  cham- 
pion's wooing.    You  will  be  a  fair  wife." 

"Ah,  speak   no  more  to  me  of  love,  dearest 


HOW  KRIEMHILD  DREAMED  A  DREAM. 


3 


mother  mine,"  the  maiden  cried.  "  Love  ever  bring- 
eth  sorrow  in  its  train,  as  I  have  seen.  I  shall 
avoid  both." 

Alas,  for  such  a  vow !  The  fair  princess,  in  her 
arrogant  mood,  actually  did  guard  her  young  heart 
against  love  for  "  many  a  lief-long  day,"  but  she 
must  finally  yield  to  destiny.  There  came  a  time 
when  a  puissant  knight  found  favor  in  her  eyes. 
He  was  the  falcon  of  her  dreams,  and  her  marriage 
with  him  caused  full  many  a  mother's  son  to  lose 
his  life.  She  believed  that  no  enemies  could  gain 
power  over  him,  and  yet  she  avenged  his  early  death 
on  her  nearest  of  kin. 


SECOND  ADVENTURE . 


ABOUT  SIEGFRIED. 


EANWHILE  a  noble  king's  son  was  growing 


up  to  manhood  far  away  in  the  Netherlands. 
Siegfried  was  his  name,  and  he  dwelt  with  his  father 
Siegmund  and  his  mother  Siegelind  in  the  strong- 
hold of  Santen,  on  the  lower  Rhine. 

At  a  very  early  age  Siegfried  had  given  evidence 
of  his  strength  and  courage,  and  had,  while  yet  in 
the  bloom  of  his  youth,  achieved  so  many  marvelous 
deeds  that  story  and  song  might  be  filled  with 
them  forever.  Indeed,  many  were  the  wondrous 
things  connected  with  his  name,  regarding  which, 
in  the  day  when  our  lay  arose,  as  its  bard  darkly 
indicates,  it  were  well  to  guard  silence. 

The  fearless  young  hero  was  beloved  by  young 
and  old,  men  and  women.  He  had  been  nurtured 
with  the  tenderest  care,  and  had  had  instilled  into 
his  mind  by  the  sages  of  his  fathers  kingdom  all 
the  wisdom  and  virtue  of  the  day.  His  superb 
manly  beauty  grew  with  his  growth,  and  his  mother 
Siegelind  took  pride  in  having  him  adorned  with 
costly  apparel,  ornamented  with  the  rarest  devices. 

When  Siegfried  arrived  at  man's  estate,  his 
father  Siegmund  gave  a  great  festival,  to  which 
were  invited  all  the  vassals  of  the  land,  as  well  as 
the  nobles  of  other  realms.  This  festival,  or  gay  high- 
tide,  was  held   in  celebration  of  young  Siegfried's 


ABOUT  SIEGFRIED. 


5 


being  invested  with  the  sword  of  knighthood,  and  it 
was  graciously  proclaimed  abroad  that  all  noble  lads 
of  Siegfried's  age,  whose  parents  desired  them  to 
become  knights,  and  who  had  been  educated  worthily, 
might  present  themselves  as  candidates  for  the  same 
honor. 

Many  wonders  might  be  told  of  the  gaieties  which 
characterized  this  festival,  and  certain  it  is  that 
Siegmund  and  Siegelind  added  greatly  to  their  re- 
nown by  their  liberality  upon  the  occasion.  The 
ceremonies  were  ushered  in  by  the  celebration  of  a 
solemn  mass  in  the  minster,  after  which  the  young 
Netherland  prince  and  four  hundred  noble  youths 
were  dubbed  knights.  Thereupon  followed  great  re- 
joicings. A  tournament  wTas  held  in  the  palace 
court,  viewed  by  fair  ladies  from  the  palace  win- 
dows ;  and  surely  the  sight  presented  by  the  ambi- 
tious youths,  vying  with  one  another  to  bear  off  the 
palm  of  victory  in  every  department  of  chivalry, 
must  have  been  an  exciting  one.  The  air  was  rent 
with  cries  of  triumph,  lances  flew  in  every  direction, 
and  the  ground  was  strewn  with  the  jewels  soft 
hands  had  fastened  upon  princely  raiment.  Need  it 
be  said  that  Siegfried,  our  hero,  bore  himself  proudly 
superior  to  all  others? 

Each  guest  had  been  presented  by  the  host  with 
a  splendidly  caparisoned  horse  and  festal  garments. 
Also,  for  love  of  her  dear  son,  Queen  Siegelind 
scattered  so  much  gold  among  the  poor  of  the  realm 
that  want  was  unknown  for  many  a  day.  Altogether, 
the  guests  were  splendidly  entertained  with  feast- 
ings,  minstrelsy,  infinite  joustings  and  pastimes,  and 


6 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


they  returned  to  their  homes,  after  the  festivities 
had  lasted  seven  days,  laden  with  costly  gifts. 

Many  who  saw  our  Siegfried  upon  this  occasion 
longed  for  the  day  when  this  noble  champion  should 
rule  over  the  land.  Surmising  this,  worthy  old 
Siegmund  proposed  to  abdicate  in  his  son's  favor, 
but  Siegfried  refused  to  hearken  unto  the  generous 
offer.  Nothing  could  induce  him,  he  said,  to  ascend 
the  throne  so  long  as  his  beloved  parents  lived  to 
do  honor  thereto. 


THIRD  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  JOURNEYED  TO  WORMS. 

ABOUT  this  time  rumors  of  the  peerless  beauty 
-£jL  and  lofty  virtue  of  Kriemhild,  the  Burgun- 
dian  maiden,  reached  the  court  of  the  Netherlands. 
Much,  also,  was  reported  of  her  proud  spirit,  and  the 
obstinacy  with  which  she  rejected  all  her  high-born 
suitors.  The  damsels  of  King  Siegmund's  court  en- 
tertained strong  hopes  that  the  latter  intelligence 
would  serve  to  nip  in  the  bud  the  interest  their  own 
young  hero  evinced  in  the  accounts  of  the  lovely  for- 
eign princess.  In  the  pride  of  his  heart,  however, 
Siegelind's  child  believed  that  he  could  win  the 
haughty  fair  one ;  and,  indeed,  the  wooing  of  all  other 
suitors  proved  to  be  light  as  air  in  the  balance  against 
his. 

Siegfried's  closest  friends  and  those  who  were  his 
liegemen  counseled  him  one  day  to  seek  out  some 
noble  lady  to  whom  he  might  dedicate  his  services  as 
loyal  knight,  and  who  would  be  his  fitting  mate  in 
wedlock.    In  reply,  bold  Siegfried  exclaimed : 

"  Then  will  I  choose  Kriemhild,  that  noble  king's 
daughter,  of  the  Burgundian  land.  There  lives  no 
sovereign  upon  earth  but  might  feel  proud  to  win  so 
peerless  a  bride." 

Tidings  of  this  determination  soon  reached  King 
Siegmund's  ears,  causing  him  deep  anxiety.  Noble 
Queen  Siegelind  also  heard  of  it,  and  grew  very  sor- 

7 


8 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


rowful  at  thought  of  the  dangers  to  which  her  dear 
child  would  be  exposed  in  seeking  to  woo  Kriemhild, 
the  peerless,  as  the  royal  maiden  was  called.  Then 
Siegfried  hastened  to  assure  his  parents  that  he  would 
remain  without  love  of  woman  forevermore  were  he 
not  freely  permitted  to  seek  his  bride  as  his  heart  bid. 

"Can  nothing  alter  your  resolve,  my  son,"  quoth 
the  king,  "  I  will  help  you  all  I  can.  Most  glad  am 
I  that  you  look  so  high.  But  King  Gunther  has  many 
mighty  vassals.  Were  there  none  other  than  Hagen 
of  Tronje,  harm  might  betide  us  were  you  to  woo  this 
glorious  maid." 

"What  harm  could  befall  us,  beloved  father  mine?" 
cried  Siegfried.  "Were  yon  haughty  Burgundians  to 
scorn  me,  my  strong  arm  and  my  trusty  sword  should 
be  my  champions  true.  Did  I  but  wish  it,  I  could 
wrest  from  King  Gunther's  rule  land  as  well  as  peo- 
ple." 

"  111  content  me  your  words,"  gravely  rejoined 
King  Siegmund.  "Were  such  a  tale  told  on  the 
Rhine  you  never  dare  ride  into  King  Gunther's  land. 
Force  cannot  win  the  maiden.  Yet  if  warlike  be 
your  mood,  our  friends  shall  make  ready  in  armed 
force  to  ride  with  you  into  yon  distant  land." 

"Such  is  not  my  intent,"  proudly  interposed  Sieg- 
fried. "  Sorely  would  I  grieve  to  win  by  force 
alone  so  peerless  a  bride.  No,  I  need  no  army ;  on 
myself  alone  would  I  depend.  Twelve  trusty  com- 
rades shall  bear  me  company,  and  these  you  must 
equip  as  beseemeth  my  chosen  knights,  father  Sieg- 
mund." 

When  Queen  Siegelind  learned  that  preparations 
were  actually  being  made  for  the  daring  enterprise, 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  JOURNEYED  TO  WORMS. 


9 


she  wept  and  bemoaned  her  sorrowful  fate,  feeling 
convinced  that  her  beloved  son  would  fall  a  victim  to 
his  ambition.  Siegfried  sweetly  strove  to  soothe  her, 
imploring  her  to  weep  not  for  will  of  his,  and  finally 
persuaded  her  to  busy  herself  in  directing  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  most  sumptuous  raiment  for  himself  and 
his  friends.  Forthwith  the  queen  called  together 
her  women,  and  day  and  night  they  labored  without 
rest  until  every  needful  garment  was  completed. 

Then  the  little  handful  of  warriors  donned  their 
knightly  garb  and  made  ready  for  their  journey.  In 
their  glittering  armor,  provided  by  good  King  Sieg- 
mund,  with  their  mighty  swords,  their  solid,  sparkling 
helmets  and  their  broad,  beautiful  shields,  they  pre- 
sented a  dazzling  aspect.  They  were  mounted,  too, 
upon  lordly  steeds,  richly  caparisoned,  having  gold-red 
saddles  and  other  trappings  of  the  greatest  magnifi- 
cence. 

When  time  came  for  leave-taking  both  king  and 
queen  were  overwhelmed  with  grief,  but  Siegfried 
tenderly  consoled  them,  assuring  them  that  they  need 
suffer  no  anxiety  on  his  account.  The  noblest  maid- 
ens of  the  court  were  assembled  to  bid  farewell  to 
the  brave  young  warriors,  and  their  sorrowful  tears 
made  sad  many  a  stout  heart.  Perhaps  these  fair 
damsels  were  oppressed  by  a  foreboding  of  the  cause 
they  should  one  day  have  for  lamentation. 

For  six  days  that  adventurous  company  pressed 
forward,  and  on  the  seventh  morning  they  rode  up 
the  sand  on  the  Rhine  banks  to  Worms.  Their  pres- 
ence was  kingly,  and  as  they  approached  the  castle, 
lords  of  high  degree,  as  well  as  esquires,  hastened  out 
to  meet  them,  courteously  offering  to  take  from  them 


10 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


horses  and  shields,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
land.  Siegfried,  however,  declined  permitting  the 
horses  to  be  led  to  the  stable,  saying  that  he  might 
possibly  only  remain  for  a  brief  period,  nor  would  he 
consent  to  having  himself  and  comrades  relieved  of 
their  shields.  He  peremptorily  demanded  to  be 
shown  into  the  presence  of  King  Gunther,  who,  he 
was  told,  was  in  the  castle  hall  of  state,  surrounded 
by  his  chosen  vassals. 

Meanwhile  tidings  had  been  borne  to  the  king  of 
the  arrival  of  the  knightly  strangers,  with  flashing 
armor  and  princely  raiment.  No  one  knew  who  they 
were;  even  Gunther,  as  he  gazed  down  from  the 
castle  window,  failed  to  recognize  them.  Finally 
some  one  suggested  summoning  Hagen,  who  had 
traveled  through  distant  lands  and  was  well  ac- 
quainted with  many  renowned  knights  and  princes. 
Gunther  heeded  the  proposition  without  delay,  and 
when  his  uncle  appeared,  eagerly  inquired  if  he  rec- 
ognized the  guests.  After  gazing  steadily  from  the 
window  for  some  moments  Hagen  replied : 

"  From  what  land  soever  these  knights  may  have 
journeyed  to  the  Rhine,  they  must  be  princes,  or  the 
messengers  of  princes, —  this  I  know  by  their  splen- 
did horses  and  their  regal  bearing  and  attire.  Never 
have  I  seen  Siegfried,  yet  yon  handsome  young  war- 
rior, with  proud,  lordly  mien,  can  be  none  other  than 
he." 

Then  he  proceeded  to  narrate  certain  events  of 
note  in  Siegfried's  career.  Rumors  had  recently  been 
bruited  throughout  the  land,  he  said,  of  how  this  dar- 
ing youth,  riding  forth  in  quest  of  adventures,  had 
entered,  by  chance,  into  the  Nibelungen  land.  Old 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  JOURNEYED  TO  WORMS.  11 


King  Nibelung,  the  former  lord  of  the  land,  had  left, 
when  he  died,  a  mighty  hoard,  concealed  within  a 
mountain  cavern.  As  Siegfried  rode  past  the  mount- 
ain side  alone,  he  found  Schilbung  and  Nibelung,  the 
king's  sons,  seated  at  the  mouth  of  the  cavern,  sur- 
rounded by  more  gold  and  precious  stones  than  an 
hundred  wagons  could  bear  away.  With  the  aid  of 
their  vassals  they  had  brought  forth  the  treasure  from 
its  dark  abode  in  view  of  making  a  division ;  but  the 
vast  proportions  of  their  inheritance  so  perplexed 
them  that  they  were  unable  to  arrive  at  an  agree- 
ment. Espying  Siegfried,  they  called  upon  him  to 
settle  their  dispute,  offering  him  as  reward  their 
father's  mighty  sword  Balmung. 

Siegfried  had  done  his  best  to  comply,  yet  all  his 
efforts  to  satisfy  the  royal  youths  were  vain.  Both 
had  fiery  tempers,  and  they  wrangled  so  violently 
with  each  other  and  with  him  that  Siegfried  lost 
patience.  Turning  wrathfully  upon  them  he  slew 
them  with  the  sword  Balmung,  and  their  body-guard 
of  twelve  giants,  all  of  whom  had  attacked  him,  he 
slew  also.  Then  the  powerful  dwarf,  Alberich,  deter- 
mined to  avenge  the  lords  whom  he  had  served, 
rushed  with  the  fury  of  a  wild  lion  at  the  daunt- 
less youth.  Him  Siegfried  speedily  overcame,  wrest- 
ing from  him  his  Tarnkappe,  or  magic  cloak  of  dark- 
ness, famed  for  rendering  its  wearer  invisible  and 
endowing  him  with  twelve  times  his  natural  strength. 
Thus  did  the  young  hero  become  master  of  the  hoard 
and  lord  of  the  Nibelungen  land,  and  all  the  knights 
of  the  land  must  swear  allegiance  to  him.  Alberich 
he  made  keeper  of  the  hoard,  ordering  him  and  his 
hosts  to  restore  it  forthwith  to  its  place  in  the  cavern. 


12 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Also,  Ilagen  told  how  it  was  known  to  him  that 
Siegfried  had  once  slain  a  monstrous  dragon,  and  had 
bathed  in  its  blood,  thus  rendering  himself  invulner- 
able, often  being  called  Siegfried  the  Horned,  invin- 
cible in  combat.  Therefore  the  uncle  of  the  kings 
earnestly  advised  that  the  young  champion  should  be 
well  received,  maintaining  that  no  light  matter  could 
have  brought  thither  this  prince  of  lofty  lineage  and 
high  renown. 

Impressed  by  this  counsel,  King  Gunther  went  for- 
ward himself,  accompanied  by  his  choicest  knights,  to 
greet  the  guest.  Saluting  Siegfried  most  reverently, 
he  asked  whence  he  had  come  and  to  what  cause  the 
honor  of  the  visit  was  due. 

"I  have  heard  it  said  in  my  father's  land,"  re- 
plied Siegfried,  "  that  the  bravest,  most  powerful 
knights  in  the  world  are  to  be  found  at  your  court: 
therefore  am  I  come.  1  am  a  knight  myself,  and 
shall  one  day  wear  a  crown.  Now  I  would  prove  my 
right  to  rule  over  land  and  people,  and  if  you  be  as 
bold  and  as  brave  as  I  have  heard,  I  challenge  you 
to  fight  with  me.  My  head  and  my  honor  I  pledge 
against  your  kingdom." 

"  Wherefore,  I  prithee,  have  we  deserved  to  have 
the  patrimony  of  our  fathers  wrested  from  us  through 
the  arrogance  of  a  stranger?"  cried  astonished  Gun- 
ther.   "  Yours  were  a  poor  test  of  chivalry." 

"  Let  the  pledge  be  the  same  on  either  side,"  per- 
sisted Siegfried.  "  If  you  be  victor  in  the  strife,  you 
and  your  heirs  shall  rule  over  my  land  until  heirs 
of  mine  have  power  to  win  it  back." 

"  It  is  not  our  desire,"  here  interposed  Gunther's 
brother,  Gemot,  "  to  gain  new  lands  with  the  lives  of 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  JOURNEYED  TO  WORMS.  13 


our  heroes.  No,  we  will  not  fight  with  you.  It 
were  folly  to  do  so." 

Hagen  muttered  angry  words,  while  his  brow  grew 
dark  and  lowering,  and  Ortwin  restlessly  grasped  his 
sword.  Gunther  and  Gemot,  however,  having  taken 
counsel  together,  united  in  assuaging  the  wrath  of 
both,  then  proceeded  to  bid  hearty  welcome  to  the 
presumptuous  guest  whom  they  found  themselves 
compelled  to  admire,  and  assured  him  that  they,  at 
least,  would  hold  their  wrath  in  reserve  until  such 
time  as  he  saw  fit  to  enter  into  combat  with  them. 
Young  Giselher,  too,  assured  the  hero  that  so  long  as 
he  chose  to  remain  peaceably  at  their  court  all  that 
they  had  should  be  his.  Thoughts  of  the  glorious 
maiden  of  his  choice  reminded  Siegfried  that  he  had 
better  be  content  with  this  reception.  So  he  gra- 
ciously accepted  the  proffered  hospitality,  drank  of 
the  royal  wine  and  was  at  rest. 

A  splendid  banquet  was  prepared  for  the  guests, 
sumptuous  apartments  selected  for  their  accommoda- 
tion, minstrelsy  and  festal  games  ordered  for  their 
entertainment.  Ere  long  it  was  admitted  that  there 
were  none  who  could  compete  with  Siegfried,  be  it 
in  hurling  stones,  casting  the  spear,  or  other  feats 
of  skill.  The  Burgundian  knights  saw  how  strong 
and  how  dauntless  he  was,  and  they  loved  him. 
Beautiful  women  gazed  at  him  from  the  castle  win- 
dows, and  he  found  favor  in  their  eyes.  Kriemhild, 
the  proud  beauty  herself,  never  wearied  of  watching 
him,  as  he  moved  grandly  through  the  games.  His 
glorious  beauty,  as  well  as  his  unconquerable  might, 
completely  won  the  maiden's  wayward  heart. 

Thus  passed  an  entire  year  at  the  Burgundian 


14 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


court.  During  this  period,  such  was  his  chivalrous 
delicacy,  Siegfried  had  never  once  hinted  at  his 
errand,  nor  had  his  eyes  rested  upon  the  lady  of 
his  love,  who  was  in  his  thoughts  day  and  night. 


FOURTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  FOUGHT  WITH  THE  SAXONS. 

THERE  arrived  one  day  at  Worms  some  foreign 
messengers,  who  were  conducted  forthwith  into 
the  presence  of  the  host  of  the  land.  Graciously 
saluting  them,  King  Gunther  said : 

"  Welcome  to  my  court !  Tell  me,  I  pray  you, 
by  whom  you  are  sent  hither." 

The  messengers  seemed  overcome  by  the  kindly 
courtesy  of  the  royal  reception,  but  soon  sufficiently 
regained  their  composure  to  announce  that  they 
came  by  order  of  their  liege  lords  Leudeger,  king  of 
the  Saxons,  and  Leudegast,  king  of  the  Danes. 
These  mighty  sovereigns  sent  tidings  that  they  were 
about  waging  war  upon  King  Gunther's  land  because 
of  their  bitter  and,  as  the  messengers  stoutly  asserted, 
well-founded  hatred.  Within  twelve  weeks  they  pur- 
posed entering  the  Burgundian  realm  with  their 
allied  forces,  unless  King  Gunther  would  negotiate 
with  them  upon  their  own  terms. 

Gunther  bid  the  messengers  await  his  answer  until 
he  had  conferred  with  his  faithful  friends.  Sending 
forthwith  for  his  brother  Gemot,  Hagen,  and  several 
of  the  best  and  wisest  of  his  liegemen,  he  communi- 
cated to  them  the  alarming  intelligence.  Gemot  was 
eager  to  make  immediate  preparations  for  war,  having 
perfect  confidence  in  the  ability  of  the  Burgundian 
forces  to  overcome  any  invading  army.     Hagen,  on 

15 


it; 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


his  part,  deemed  it  utterly  impossible  to  make  ready 
to  withstand  such  a  foe  in  so  short  a  space  of  time, 
and  suggested  seeking  counsel  of  Siegfried.  To  this 
Gunther  strenuously  objected. 

Orders  had  meanwhile  been  issued  that  the  mes- 
sengers should  be  as  handsomely  entertained  as  though 
they  had  not  come  thither  with  hostile  intent;  and 
while  they  were  feasting  and  enjoying  themselves, 
the  lord  of  the  land  was  darkly  brooding  over  his 
perplexity.  It  could  not  long  escape  Siegfried's  keen 
observation  that  something  was  amiss,  and  he  kindly 
asked  Gunther  what  troubled  him. 

"  That  I  cannot  tell  you,"  was  Gunther's  reply. 
"To  long-tried  friends  alone  should  be  revealed  the 
heart's  secret  woes." 

Siegfried  changed  color  at  these  words. 

"  Surely  I  deserve  your  trust,"  he  reproachfully 
exclaimed.  "  Only  tell  me  your  need,  and  you  will 
find  me  ready  to  serve  you,  as  a  faithful  friend,  to  the 
end  of  my  days." 

Then  Gunther  hesitated  no  longer.  Warmly 
thanking  Siegfried  for  his  friendship,  he  proceeded 
to  disclose  to  him  the  doleful  tidings  brought  by 
the  foreign  messengers. 

"If  this  be  your  sole  cause  of  distress,"  cried 
Siegfried,  "  set  your  mind  speedily  at  rest.  Follow 
my  biddings,  and  you  shall  win  glory  and  renown. 
Had  your  powerful  foes  an  army  of  thirty  thousand 
men,  I  could  conquer  them  with  one  thousand  trusty 
warriors  alone." 

It  was  then  arranged  that  Siegfried  should  sally 
forth  to  battle  accompanied  by  his  own  twelve  com- 
rades and  a  thousand  chosen  Burgundians,  with  Hagen, 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  FOUGHT  WITH  THE  SAXONS.  17 


Gemot,  Dank  wart,  Ortwin  and  Volker  at  their  head. 
Gunther  must  remain  at  home,  so  Siegfried  main- 
tained. The  messengers  were  forthwith  summoned 
into  the  royal  presence,  and  Gunther  bid  them 
return  to  their  Jiege  lords  with  tidings  that  the  Bur- 
gundians  were  ready  for  the  reception  of  any  foe  who 
was  so  unwise  as  to  brave  their  wrath.  Loading  them 
with  costly  gifts,  the  good  king  dismissed  the  awe- 
inspired  strangers,  providing  them  with  a  safe  escort 
as  far  as  the  confines  of  the  land. 

When  the  messengers  reached  Denmark  they 
appeared  before  King  Leudegast,  and  made  known 
to  him  all  that  had  occurred.  The  king  was  furiously 
incensed  at  learning  how  his  message  had  been 
received,  but  he  was  also  alarmed  to  hear  that  Sieg- 
fried of  the  Netherlands  was  the  guest  of  his  enemies. 
He  took  counsel  with  his  brother  of  Saxony,  and 
between  them  they  raised  an  army  of  forty  thousand 
warriors. 

The  champions  of  the  Rhine  meanwhile  equipped 
themselves  for  their  journey,  took  leave  of  Gunther, 
and  rode  proudly  forth  through  the  land  of  the  Hes- 
sians toward  Saxony,  sweeping  everything  before 
them  as  they  pressed  onward.  Fear-defying  Volker 
had  been  chosen  standard-bearer,  and  a  nobler  one 
had  never  been  beheld.  When  the  Saxon  confines 
were  reached,  Siegfried  commended  the  army  to  the 
care  of  Gemot  and  Hagen,  who  had  already  been 
appointed  marshals,  and  himself  pricked  forward 
alone  to  view  the  land.  Very  shortly  he  reached  a 
point  whence  were  clearly  visible  the  combined  forces 
of  the  Saxons  and  the  Danes,  and  his  heart  bounded 
with  joy  because  of  their  vast  numbers,  for  these 


18 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


would  serve  to  heighten  the  glory  of  the  victory  he 
was  confident  of  gaining. 

Presently  there  appeared  before  our  hero  a  hostile 
knight  who,  like  himself,  had  ridden  forward  to 
reconnoiter.  After  a  threatening  interchange  of 
wrathful  glances,  each  bold  warrior  spurred  onward 
his  horse  and  made  a  violent  charge  upon  the  other. 
First  they  matched  their  skill  in  hurling  the  lance, 
then  they  fought  with  swords.  Siegfried  was  not  long 
in  completely  overpowering  his  opponent,  severely 
wounding  him  three  times.  Then  the  stranger 
knight,  finding  his  splendid  coat  of  mail  and  his 
gold-red  shield  utterly  powerless  to  resist  the  vigor- 
ous blows  which  he  had  failed  to  parry,  humbly  sued 
for  his  life,  and  proclaimed  himself  to  be  Leudegast, 
King  of  the  Danes. 

Thirty  Danish  warriors,  seeing  the  extremity  of 
their  liege  lord,  had  hastened  to  his  rescue;  but  ere 
they  reached  the  spot  he  was  a  prisoner  of  war. 
Valiantly  they  strove  to  overcome  the  vanquisher 
and  set  the  monarch  free,  but  Siegfried,  the  invinci- 
ble, turned  and  slew  them  all  but  one,  whom  he 
spared  to  return  with  the  tidings  to  the  enemy's 
camp.  When  King  Leudeger  learned  his  brother's 
fate,  he  waxed  very  wrathful,  and  ordered  the  entire 
army  to  prepare  forthwith  for  battle. 

Siegfried,  also,  after  seeing  that  his  royal  captive 
was  suitably  guarded,  gave  the  word  of  command 
for  his  forces  to  be  led  forward,  while  with  his  own 
brave  twelve  he  dashed  on  in  advance.  All  their 
old  arrogance  returned  to  the  Saxons  and  the  Danes 
when  they  became  aware  of  the  absurd  disparity  of 
numbers  between   their  own  and   the  contending 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  FOUGHT  WITH  THE  SAXONS.  19 


force ;  but  their  false  hopes  were  doomed  to  be  ruth- 
lessly dashed  to  the  ground.  Siegfried,  with  his 
twelve  knights  and  the  one  thousand  Burgundians, 
fell  upon  them  with  unexampled  fury;  and  although 
swords  did  their  fearful  work  of  destruction  on  both 
sides,  and  lances  flew  like  hail  in  every  direction,  it 
was  the  larger  force  that  was  utterly  demoralized. 

Throughout  the  storm  of  battle,  Siegfried  had 
searched  incessantly  for  King  Leudeger.  After  cut- 
ting his  way  three  times  through  the  enemy's  ranks, 
the  hero  at  last  found  him  of  whom  he  was  in  quest, 
and  engaged  him  in  single  combat.  When  Leudeger 
descried  the  painted  crown  upon  his  opponent's  shield, 
and  experienced  the  might  of  the  sword  Balmung, 
he  knew  that  it  was  Siegfried  with  whom  he  had 
to  contend.  Straightway  his  strength  forsook  him, 
and  he  surrendered. 

"  Give  up  the  strife,  my  followers,"  the  monarch 
cried  to  those  who  rallied  about  him  to  defend  him 
in  his  need.  "  This  is  King  Siegmund's  son,  the 
brave,  whom  here  we  find.  The  foul  fiend  hath 
sent  him  hither." 

Universal  confusion  ensued,  and  wildly  bewailing 
their  ignominious  defeat,  all  who  could  escape  fled 
homeward.  The  ground  was  covered  with  the  slain, 
and  a  multitude  of  wounded  and  prisoners  were  pro- 
vided for  by  Gemot  and  Hagen.  Amid  tumultuous 
rejoicings  the  victorious  army  now  prepared  to  return 
to  their  own  land,  unanimously  declaring  that  their 
unparalleled  success  was  due  wholly  to  Siegfried. 

Noble  Gemot  dispatched  heralds  in  advance  of 
them  to  bear  the  glad  tidings  to  Worms.  King 
Gunther  came  forward  himself  to  receive  them,  and 


20 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


noble  ladies  of  the  court  thronged  around,  besieging 
them  with  questions. 

Fair  Krieinhild  tarried  in  her  chamber.  Her 
heart  had  long  belonged  to  one  of  the  absent  warriors, 
and  she  shrank  from  coming  forward  to  inquire  about 
the  fate  of  the  army.  A  messenger  was  sent  to  ac- 
quaint her  with  the  news,  and  she  received  him  with 
trembling  eagerness.  Not  having  courage  to  pro- 
nounce Siegfried's  name,  she  sweetly  asked  how  it 
had  fared  with  her  brother  Gemot  and  the  rest  of 
her  friends;  whether  any  had  fallen  in  battle,  and  who 
had  fought  most  bravely. 

"  There  was  not  a  coward  in  our  ranks,  most  noble 
king's  daughter,"  the  messenger  replied ;  "  but  the 
bravest  of  the  brave  was  the  bold  stranger  from  the 
Netherlands.  The  valiant  deeds  of  Gemot,  Hagen, 
Dankwart,  and  every  one  of  King  Gunther's  vassals 
combined,  were  as  puffs  of  wind  compared  with  those 
wrought  by  the  hand  of  King  Siegmund's  child.  It 
was  he  who  overcame  the  king  of  the  Saxons  and  the 
king  of  the  Danes,  who  are  now  being  led  captive 
to  the  Rhineland  with  upward  of  five  hundred  of 
their  knights.  Besides  these,  our  army  conduct  hither 
eighty  horse  biers  of  the  enemy's  wounded,  most  of 
whom,  as  well  as  the  greater  part  of  the  slain,  fell 
by  bold  Siegfried's  hand." 

Kriemhild's  lovely  face  grew  rosy-red  with  joy 
as  she  hearkened  unto  these  tidings,  and  she  gave 
orders  forthwith  that  costly  apparel  and  much  gold 
should  be  given  to  the  messenger.  Then  she  gra- 
ciously dismissed  him,  and  he  departed  feeling  it  to 
be  a  very  pleasant  duty  to  deliver  glad  tidings  to 
such  a  wealthy  lady. 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  FOUGHT  WITH  THE  SAXONS.  21 

Soon  the  Burgundian  warriors  reached  home,  hav- 
ing lost  bnt  sixty  of  their  number  in  the  strife.  They 
met  with  a  joyful  reception,  Gunther  himself  coming 
forth  from  the  castle  to  bid  them  welcome.  The 
good  king  was  even  so  gracious  as  to  accord  a  kindly 
greeting  to  his  captive  brother  monarchs,  who,  while 
he  was  exchanging  salutations  with  them,  assured 
him  that  vast  sums  of  gold  should  be  sent  to  him 
from  their  homes  if  he  would  only  grant  them  treat- 
ment becoming  their  royal  station. 

"  Great  wrong  have  ye  done  me,"  said  King  Gun- 
ther. "  Heaven  reward  the  friends  who  have  stood 
by  me  and  crowned  our  arms  with  fresh  glor}^.  Most 
certainly  you  shall  be  treated  as  honored  guests  at 
my  court,  and  as  such  you  shall  have  perfect  freedom 
if  you  will  but  pledge  me  your  word  not  to  depart 
from  my  kingdom  until  our  terms  of  peace  be  con- 
cluded." 

The  two  kings  eagerly  gave  the  pledge  required 
by  their  generous  host,  and  were  then  conducted  to 
sumptuous  apartments,  where  their  weary  limbs  soon 
rested  on  beds  of  down.  Orders  were  given  that  all 
other  prisoners  should  be  treated  also  in  a  manner 
befitting  warriors  of  renown,  while  skillful  physi- 
cians were  bidden  to  bestow  the  same  attention 
upon  the  enemy's  wounded  as  upon  their  own. 

King  Gunther  resolved  to  celebrate  the  victory 
by  holding  a  gay  high-tide,  or  festival  of  rejoicing; 
but  this,  according  to  Gernot's  advice,  was  delayed 
six  weeks  in  order  that  as  many  of  the  wounded  as 
possible  might  have  time  to  recover.  Siegfried  at 
this  juncture,  unexpectedly,  asked  leave  of  the  king 
to  return  to  the  Netherlands,  but  Gunther  besought 


22 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


him  urgently  to  remain.  Thinking  of  the  glorious 
maiden,  upon  whose  beauty  as  yet  his  eyes  had 
never  rested,  the  hero  did  not  find  it  difficult  to 
yield. 


FIFTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  FIRST  SAW  KRIEMHILD. 

AS  the  appointed  time  drew  near,  heroes  came 
pouring  in  from  every  direction  to  the  Rhine- 
land,  in  order  to  celebrate  the  gay  high-tide. 
Among  the  invited  guests  might  be  reckoned  thirty- 
two  princes  and  upward  of  five  thousand  warriors 
of  renown,  with  gold-red  saddles,  dazzling  shields 
and  sumptuous  apparel.  Young  Giselher  charmed 
every  one  by  the  winning  grace  of  his  friendly  greet- 
ing; nor  was  his  brother.  Gemot,  slow  in  paying 
his  share  of  kindly  attentions  to  the  strangers.  In 
fact,  the  whole  land  seemed  to  be  in  a  state  of 
tumultuous  rejoicing;  and  even  those  who  still  lay 
wounded  ceased  to  remember  the  bitterness  of  death 
as  they  gazed  from  the  windows  at  the  busy  doings 
without. 

King  Gunther,  in  view  of  bringing  about  a  little 
scheme  which  had  for  some  time  been  working  in 
his  own  mind,  carelessly  asked  his  friends  to  sug- 
gest the  most  probable  means  of  heightening  the 
pleasures  of  the  day.  Ortwin  promptly  exclaimed 
that  the  only  thing  lacking  to  render  the  festival 
perfect  was  the  presence  of  the  ladies  and  children, 
and  he  proposed  that  the  deficiency  should  be 
remedied  forthwith.  The  king,  who  had  long  sur- 
mised the  state  of  Siegfried's  heart,  joyfully  acced- 
ed, delighted  to  have  at  last  an  opportunity  of  in- 
troducing his  fair  sister  to  the  noble  knight. 

23 


24 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


When  dame  Ute  was  apprised  of  the  decree 
which  had  gone  forth,  she  sought  through  her 
presses,  in  haste,  for  rich  attire  and  jewels  of  great 
price,  for  love  of  her  child,  wherewith  to  deck  many 
beautiful  dames  and  damsels.  It  was  on  a  Whitsun- 
day morning,  when  the  brave  knights  were  assembled 
to  begin  the  festivities,  that  Kriemhild  was-  seen  ad- 
vancing at  her  mother's  side,  with  a  body-guard  of 
an  hundred  knights,  all  sword  in  hand,  and  many 
a  noble  lady  wearing  costly  raiment. 

The  lovely  one  came  forward,  says  our  song,  as 
doth  the  morning-red  from  troubled  clouds.  Much 
care  fled  from  him,  wTho  had  long  borne  her  in  his 
heart  when  she  stood  before  him  in  her  beauty. 
There  glittered  upon  her  garments  full  many  pre- 
cious stars,  her  lovely  face  was  illumined  with  a  rosy 
glow,  and  every  man  who  beheld  her  must  needs 
confess  that  he  had  never  seen  aught  so  fair. 

As  the  bright,  full  moon  floats  before  the  stars, 
shedding  its  liquid  radiance  over  the  clouds,  so  fair 
Kriemhild  stood  first  and  most  glorious  among  the 
beauteous  dames  and  damsels.  The  lofty  chamber- 
lains, the  puissant  knights,  pressed  forward  to  gain 
sight  of  the  peerless  maiden.  As  for  bold  Siegfried, 
he  was  both  sorrowful  and  glad.  ''How  did  I  ever 
think  of  wooing  thee?"  he  queried  within  himself. 
"That  was  a  vain  dream  of  mine;  yet,  must  I  for- 
ever be  a  stranger,  I  were  better  dead."  He  grew 
pale  and  red  by  turns  over  these  thoughts;  and  as 
he  stood  thus  engrossed,  the  lovely  child  of  Siege- 
lind  looked  as  though  he  were  limned  to  parchment 
by  a  master's  hand,  we  are  told.  Every  one  present 
unanimously  agreed  in  declaring  that  a  more  glori- 
ous hero  had  never  been  beheld. 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  FIRST  SAW  -  KRIEMHILD.  25 


"To  the  hero  who  hath  so  nobly  aided  us  in 
our  need,  dear  brother  Gnnther,"  spake  Gemot,  at 
last,  "is  due  the  highest  mark  of  honor  we  can 
give.  Let  the  brave  Siegfried  be  presented  to  our 
sister,  who  has  never  yet  saluted  man,  for  he  merits 
all  the  cheer  her  salutation  may  afford." 

King  Gunther  forthwith  sent  his  friends  to  sum- 
mon Siegfried,  whose  joy  was  boundless.  Fair 
Kriemhild,  who  had  been  apprized  of  what  was  ex- 
pected of  her,  received  the  hero  of  the  Netherlands 
with  all  graciousness,  and  she  blushed  deeply  as  she 
softly  murmured : 

"  Be  welcome,  Sir  Siegfried,  most  noble  knight 
and  good." 

This  greeting  revived  Siegfried's  courage,  and  he 
bowed  with  courtly  reverence  as  he  returned  his 
thanks.  With  fond  stolen  glances  they  viewed  each 
other,  but  whether  Siegfried  tenderly  pressed  the 
lily-white  hand  extended  to  him  has  never  been 
placed  upon  record,  we  are  gravely  informed,  with 
the  additional  suggestion  that  there  is  every  reason 
to  suppose  he  did. 

From  this  time  forth,  in  those  bright  May  days, 
these  two  were  constantly  seen  together.  The  possi- 
bility of  so  much  felicity  had  never  before  entered 
into  Siegfried's  mind,  and  never  was  knight  more  de- 
voted to  the  lady  of  his  love  than  noble  Siegfried  to 
fair  Kriemhild.  Many  envious  eyes  followed  him  as 
he  walked  along  the  Rhine  banks  with  the  fair  one  by 
his  side.  For  twelve  days,  amid  festivities  of  every 
kind,  he  was  permitted,  by  special  favor  of  the  court, 
to  be  the  constant  attendant  of  the  glorious  princess, 
and  the  love  of  this  peerless  pair  waxed  daily. 


26 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Finally  the  allotted  period  drew  to  a  close.  Gun- 
ther  called  his  vassals  around  him,  thanked  them  for 
the  services  they  had  accorded  him,  and  showered 
upon  them  gold  and  costly  gifts.  The  royal  captives, 
Leudegast  and  Leudeger,  both  of  whom  had  fully  re- 
covered from  their  wounds,  sought  an  interview  with 
King  Gunther,  and  offered  to  send  him  as  much  gold 
as  five  hundred  horses  could  carry  immediately  upon 
reaching  home  if  he  would  permit  them  to  return 
thither  without  further  delay.  Gunther  asked  Sieg- 
fried what  he  thought  about  accepting  this  ransom  ; 
but  Siegfried  advised  him  not  to  do  so  upon  any  ac- 
count. It  would  be  far  better,  he  said,  to  grant  the 
monarchs  their  freedom  on  the  sole  condition  of  their 
never  again  entering  Burgundy  with  hostile  intent. 
The  captive  monarchs  were  only  too  glad  to  give 
King  Gunther  their  hands  upon  this  promise.  Imme- 
diately thereupon  they  made  ready  with  their  men, 
and  set  forth  for  their  own  land.  The  other  guests 
also  departed  one  by  one,  bearing  with  them  the  most 
costly  gifts. 

When  the  habitual  routine  was  restored  at  court, 
Siegfried  began  to  speak  of  returning  to  his  father's 
land.  He  had  begun  to  fear  that  he  must  long  sigh 
in  vain  for  the  coy,  often  capricious,  lady  of  his  love. 
Young  Giselher,  however,  besought  him  to  stay  with 
them  yet  awhile  longer;  and  Siegfried's  heart  was 
touched  at  this  and  at  the  universal  expressions  of 
affection  for  him  at  court.  He  remained,  and  was  re- 
warded by  seeing  Kriemhild  every  day. 


SIXTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  GUNTHER  FARED  TO  ISENLAND  TO  WOO  BRUNHILD. 


beyond  the  Burgundian  realm,  and  one  of  these  King 
Gunther  resolved  upon  winning  for  his  bride.  So 
haughty  was  his  mood  that  none  other  would  content 
him  than  a  noble  king's  daughter,  who  ruled  far  over 
the  sea,  the  widely-renowned  Brunhild,  Queen  of  Isen- 
land.  She  was  beautiful  beyond  compare,  but  her 
dowry  of  incomparable  strength  was  more  marvelous 
than  her  beauty.  Each  aspirant  to  her  hand  must 
match  his  skill  with  hers  in  the  three  games  of  cast- 
ing the  spear,  hurling  the  stone,  and  leaping.  The 
successful  competitor  she  was  pledged  to  marry,  all 
others  were  condemned  to  forfeit  their  heads.  Hith- 
erto no  one  had  made  the  slightest  approach  to  suc- 
cess, and  many  lives  had  fallen  sacrifice  to  the  dread 
queen's  caprice. 

One  day  when  King  Gunther  sat  in  counsel  with 
his  friends,  who  had  long  entreated  him  to  select  a 
spouse  worthy  alike  of  himself  and  of  his  people,  he 
greatly  astounded  them  by  announcing  his  intention 
to  woo  the  mighty  Brunhild.  Siegfried,  who  evi- 
dently had  reasons  he  did  not  see  fit  to  admit  for 
being  well  informed  about  the  warrior-queen,  pro- 
ceeded forthwith  to  depict,  in  glowing  colors,  the 
dangers  incident  upon  such  an  enterprise;  but  Gun- 


now  reached  the  Rhine.  It  was 
there  were  many  fair  maidens 


28 


ECHOES  FllOM  MIST-LAND. 


ther  coolly  replied  that  lie  felt  himself  thoroughly 
able  to  compete  with  a  woman,  were  she  ever  so 
strong. 

"  Hold  !  "  impetuously  cried  Siegfried.  "  The 
power  of  this  woman  is  unknown  to  you.  Were 
the  strength  of  four  men  yours,  you  could  not  es- 
cape her  remorseless  fury.  As  you  value  your  life, 
friend  Gunther,  give  up  this  scheme,  I  beseech  you. 
I  mean  well  with  m}^  advice." 

The  king  was  in  no  mood  to  hearken  unto  cau- 
tion, for  his  heart  was  set  upon  this  suit.  Ever-pru- 
dent Hagen,  whom  nothing  escaped,  perceived  this, 
and  promptly  suggested  that  since  Siegfried  was  so 
well  informed  about  Brunhild,  it  would  be  well  if  he 
could  be  prevailed  upon  to  accompany  the  king  upon 
this  perilous  voyage. 

"  Most  noble  Siegfried,"  exclaimed  Gunther,  turn- 
ing at  once  to  the  hero  of  the  Netherlands,  "  help  me 
to  woo  this  adorable  fair  one.  Grant  my  request,  I 
implore  you,  and  if  the  glorious  maid  is  won,  I  shall 
be  most  happy  to  risk  honor,  life  and  limb  for  you 
in  return." 

"Promise  me  your  sister,  fair  Kriemhild,  for  my 
bride,"  was  Siegfried's  reply,  "and  I  will  joyfully 
aid  you.  Other  guerdon  for  toil  and  pain  I  do  not 
desire." 

"  That  will  I  gladly  promise,"  cried  Gunther. 
"  The  day  peerless  Brunhild  enters  this  land  as  its 
queen  my  sister  shall  become  your  wife." 

The  brave  knights  warmly  clasped  hands  upon 
this  compact,  whence  arose,  at  the  destined  time,  such 
boundless  misery.  Then  Gunther  inquired  whether 
a  force  of  thirty  thousand  men  would  be  a  sufficient 


HOW  GUNTHER  FARED  TO  ISENLAND.  29 


escort,  but  Siegfried  assured  him  that  an  army  would 
be  of  no  avail ;  that,  in  fact,  their  wisest  course  would 
be  to  rely  upon  themselves,  Hagen  and  Dank  wart 
alone.  After  this  the  requisite  preparations  were 
discussed,  and  Siegfried  advised  that  the  richest,  most 
sumptuous  apparel  the  land  could  afford  should  be 
ordered  to  be  worn  upon  this  occasion.  The  king 
proposed  seeking  out  his  mother  forthwith,  in  order  to 
lay  the  matter  before  her,  but  Hagen  cried : 

"Wherefore  trouble  your  mother?  Confer  instead 
with  your  sister;  her  taste  and  skill  is  great.  She 
will  well  satisfy  our  needs." 

Gunther  was  pleased  with  this  suggestion,  and  at 
once  sent  word  to  his  sister  that  he  and  his  friend 
Siegfried  desired  to  hold  audience  with  her.  The 
fair  maiden  donned  her  richest  attire,  nor  did  she 
object  to  the  conference. 

"  Welcome,  my  brother,  and  you,  his  friend,"  said 
she,  as  the  two  champions  drew  near.  "  Tell  me,  I 
beseech  you,  in  what  way  I  can  serve  you." 

Thereupon  King  Gunther  apprised  her  of  his  pro- 
jected enterprise,  and  told  her  that  upon  her  alone  did 
he  rely  for  aid  in  the  preparation  of  suitable  ward- 
robes. Kriemhild  hearkened  with  lively  interest,  and 
cheerfully  promised  to  spare  no  pains  in  executing  the 
important  commission.  No  sooner  had  the  warriors 
bold  sallied  forth  from  her  presence  than  she  hastened 
to  assemble  together  thirty  of  her  most  skilled  maid- 
ens in  order  to  begin  the  work  without  delay. 

With  her  own  white  hand  Kriemhild  cut  out 
garments  of  snow-white  silk  from  Araby,  of  good 
Zazemang,  green  as  clover,  of  rare  skins  covered  with 
silks  from  Morocco  and  from  Lybia.   For  seven  weeks 


30 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


she  employed  herself  with  her  maidens  in  embroider- 
ing curious  devices,  studded  with  costly  jewels,  and 
wrought  with  threads  of  gold.  At  the  expiration  of 
this  period,  twelve  suits  for  each  of  the  four  knights 
were  completed. 

The  time  had  been  employed  by  the  warriors 
themselves  in  setting  all  things  in  readiness  for  the 
journey.  Their  helmets  and  clanging  armor  had  to  be 
looked  after,  their  weapons  put  in  order,  a  strong 
bark  suitably  equipped  for  the  voyage,  and  provisions 
made  for  the  management  of  the  realm  during  the 
absence  of  the  king.  Nor  had  Siegfried  forgotten 
his  Tarnkappe,  that  most  invaluable  cloak  of  dark- 
ness he  had  wrested  from  the  dwarf  Alberich. 
Wild  dwarfs  dwelling  in  mountain  caves,  we  learn 
from  our  song,  often  possessed  such  screens  as  this, 
which  made  them  proof  against  any  weapon,  enabled 
them  to  become  invisible,  and  gave  them  twelve 
times  their  natural  strength. 

When  word  was  brought  King  Gunther  and  his 
friends  that  Kriemhild's  task  was  completed,  and 
that  the  handiwork  of  fair  fingers  was  ready  for  in- 
spection, they  hastened  to  try  on  the  garments. 
Every  article  fitted  to  perfection,  and  the  warriors 
were  forced  to  admit  that  their  eyes  had  never 
rested  upon  more  dazzling  raiment.  They  demanded 
audience  of  Kriemhild,  in  order  to  tender  her  their 
heartiest  thanks,  and  bid  her  farewell.  When  they 
were  ushered  into  the  presence  of  the  lovely  maiden 
they  found  her  bright  eyes  clouded  with  weeping. 

"  Dearest  brother  mine,"  cried  she,  "  it  were 
better  for  you  to  remain  at  home,  and  woo  one 
among  other  women.     There  is  many  a  high-born 


HOW  GUNTHER  FARED  TO  ISENLAND. 


31 


maiden  nigh  at  hand.  Why  cross  the  seas  and  risk 
your  precious  life  ? " 

She  seemed  truly  oppressed  by  dire  forebodings, 
and  these  her  maidens  doubtless  shared,  for  they 
wept  sorrowfully  while  she  spoke.  Finding  her 
brother  immovable,  she  turned  to  Siegfried  and 
sweetly  commended  Gunther  to  his  protection. 
Deeply  touched,  the  brave  hero  made  answer  thus 
to  her  appeal : 

"  So  long  as  life  endures  I  will  watch  over  and 
guard  him.  Be  at  rest,  noble  princess,  I  will  surely 
bring  him  back  unharmed  to  the  Rhineland." 

Ivriemhild  bowed  low  in  gratitude,  but  she  could 
speak  no  word.  Then  the  last  farewells  were  spoken 
and  the  heroes  went  forth  from  the  royal  maiden's 
presence.  They  rode  down  to  the  Rhine  banks  on 
the  richly-caparisoned  steeds,  followed  by  attendants 
who  carried  after  them  the  princely  robes  and  gold- 
red  shields.  Arrived  at  the  shore,  they  took  leave 
of  the  assembled  multitude  and  entered  the  wait- 
ing vessel,  taking  with  them  their  noble  chargers. 
Ivriemhild  and  her  maidens  watched  them  from  the 
casements,  and  the  eyes  of  many  a  lovely  child 
were  clouded  with  tears. 

"  Who  will  be  steersman  ? "  asked  Gunther  ot 
his  companions. 

"I  will,"  responded  Siegfried,  "for  well  I  know 
our  course." 

So  saying,  he  seized  an  oar  and  pushed  the  bark 
off'  from  the  strand.  The  sail  was  unfurled  to  the 
breeze,  and  the  trusty  comrades  were  speedily  drift- 
ing seaward  on  the  waters  of  the  Rhine.  Before 
set  of  sun  they  had  reached  the  open  sea.  They 


32 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


had  on  board  rich  viands,  as  well  as  a  goodly  store 
of  choicest  wines,  and  they  managed  to  make  merry 
despite  the  arduous  rowing  of  which  each  knight 
took  his  share. 

Upon  the  twelfth  morning  the  bark  came  within 
view  of  Isenstein,  a  fortress  in  the  martial  Brunhild's 
land.  Siegfried  alone  recognized  the  spot ;  he  had 
been  there  before,  as  we  learn  from  other  records  of 
his  history  which  detail  incidents  not  noted  by  our 
bard.  Gunther,  however,  was  attracted  by  the  far- 
stretching  coast  and  the  castles  frowning  from  every 
height. 

"  Friend  Siegfried,"  quoth  he,  "  to  whom  belongs 
yon  fair  land?  Whose  these  castles,  and  the  citadel 
that  looms  up  before  us?  Never  have  I  seen  aught 
so  nobly  planned." 

"Well  do  I  know  what  you  ask,"  replied  Sieg- 
fried. "  Brunhild  is  mistress  of  all  these  castles,  this 
fair  land,  and  Isenstein,  yon  fortress.  Many  a  fair 
dame  will  you  meet  here  to-day,  Sir  Gunther.  And 
now,  my  friends,"  continued  the  hero  of  the  Nether- 
lands, "we  must  be  wary  when  we  stand  before  Queen 
Brunhild  this  day.  Tell  but  this  single  story  at  court, 
that  King  Gunther  is  my  liege  lord,  and  that  we  are 
all  his  vassals.  Believe  me,  there  are  ample  reasons 
for  this.  But  think  not  that  I  stoop  to  play  this  part 
for  love  of  you  alone,  Sir  Gunther.  No;  it  is  be- 
cause of  Kriemhild,  who  is  as  my  own  soul  and  life." 

With  one  accord  the  comrades  promised  to  heed 
Siegfried's  bidding,  and  therein  they  were  wise. 


SEVENTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  GUNTHER  WON  BRUNHILD. 

AS  they  drew  nearer  the  citadel,  Gvmther  dis- 
XjL  covered  that  many  beautiful  maidens  were 
watching  them  from  the  windows.  Eagerly  his  eye 
wandered  from  one  proud  beauty  to  another,  and 
finally  rested  upon  the  most  grandly  superb  maiden 
of  the  number.    Noting  this,  Siegfried  cried : 

"  Scan  yon  damsels  well,  friend  Gunther,  and  tell 
me  which  one  you  would  take  for  your  own  if  you 
had  your  choice." 

"Ay,  that  I  will,"  replied  Gunther.  "Can  the 
peerless  maiden  in  snow-white  raiment  at  yonder 
window  be  won,  she  shall  be  my  bride." 

"  Well  indeed  have  you  chosen,"  exclaimed  Sieg- 
fried. "  Yon  glorious  maiden  is  none  other  than 
Brunhild." 

When  the  heroes  landed,  Siegfried,  in  his  role  of 
vassal,  humbly  led  forward  Gnnther's  horse,  and  held 
the  bridle  while  the  king  mounted.  Never  before 
had  this  knight  of  renown  performed  so  menial  a 
service.  After  getting  through  with  the  preliminaries 
of  landing,  the  friends  rode  up  to  the  fortress,  which 
was  composed  of  three  wide-stretching  palaces,  with 
six-and-eighty  towers  and  a  broad  central  hall,  the 
entire  edifice  being  built  of  purest  marble,  green  as 
grass.  It  was  a  goodly  sight  to  view  these  champi- 
ons.   Princely  was  their  jewel-studded  vesture;  rich 

33 


34 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


stones  adorned  their  saddles;  suspended  from  their 
poitrails  were  gold  bells,  which  tinkled  as  they  rode; 
and  proudly  the  comrades  moved  onward. 

Queen  Brunhild  had  noted  every  movement,  and 
she  eagerly  questioned  her  attendants  regarding  the 
identity  of  the  stately  warriors.  One  of  the  maidens 
replied : 

"  There  is  one  among  these  noble  champions  who 
hath  the  princely  Siegfried's  bearing;  him  receive  and 
welcome  well,  great  queen.  This  I  say  with  faithful 
intent.  The  second  is  perchance  some  great  king. 
Behold  how  lordly  he  appeareth  there  amid  his  com- 
panions !  The  third,  with  garments  of  raven  hue,  is 
stern  and  awful  to  behold,  yet  rarely  may  be  seen  a 
manlier  form.  His  glances  are  rapid,  firm  is  his  cour- 
age, I  ween,  his  temper  fierce  and  grim.  The  fourth 
seems  young  and  gentle,  yet  trained  withal  in  every 
knightly  virtue.  Many  are  the  tears  would  be  shed 
should  harm  befall  him.  noble  queen." 

Straightway  the  royal  Brunhild  bid  her  maidens 
array  her  in  the  costliest  of  her  raiment,  and  strange 
reminiscences  of  a  past,  only  dimly  alluded  to  in  our 
song,  must  have  arisen  preeminent  in  her  mind,  lead- 
ing her  to  suppose,  as  a  matter  of  course,  that  Sieg- 
fried had  come  to  claim  her  hand  for  himself.  Orders 
were  given  to  unbar  the  castle  gates,  and  Brunhild's 
liegemen  went  forth  to  meet  and  do  honor  to  the 
guests.  Hagen  remonstrated  when  he  found  that 
swords  and  glittering  armor  were  to  be  taken  away 
from  himself  and  comrades,  as  well  as  horses  and 
shields,  but  being  informed  by  Siegfried  that  such 
was  the  custom  of  the  land,  he  yielded. 

Brunhild,  surrounded  by  an  hundred  maidens, 


HOW  GUNTHER  WON  BRUNHILD. 


35 


with  an  escort  of  five  hundred  knights  of  Isenland, 
sword  in  hand,  awaited  the  approach  of  the  warriors 
in  her  courtly  hall.  When  they  were  led  into  her 
presence,  she  turned  to  Siegfried  and  thus  accosted 
him  : 

"You  are  welcome,  Siegfried,  to  my  kingdom. 
Fain  would  I  know  the  import  of  your  visit." 

"  Accept  my  hearty  thanks,  Queen  Brunhild,  for 
deigning  to  recognize  me  in  presence  of  this  my 
liege  lord,"  replied  Siegfried,  waving  his  hand  to- 
ward .  Gunther.  "  This  bold  champion  is  Gunther, 
king  of  the  Rhine  lands,  and  I  am  his  vassal.  He 
has  come  hither  to  woo  you,  let  come  what  may." 

"If  he  be  your  lord,  if  you  be  his  liegeman," 
cried  Brunhild,  concealing  as  best  she  could  her  sur- 
prise and  chagrin,  "  and  he  will  try  the  games,  I 
will  be  his  wife  should  he  prove  master.  But  if  I 
win  once,  you  must  all  lose  your  lives." 

"What  are  these  games,  most  noble  queen?" 
asked  Hagen.  "  Strange  were  it  indeed  if  my  lord 
Gunther  should  leave  the  victory  to  you/' 

"  Casting  the  spear,  hurling  the  stone  and  leap- 
ing after  it,"  was  the  cruel  fair  one's  reply. 

Hereupon  Siegfried  stole  softly  to  the  king's  side 
and  bade  him  talk  freely  with  the  queen,  bearing  in 
mind  that  a  friend  was  at  hand  to  aid  him.  Thus 
encouraged,  Gunther  turned  to  Brunhild  and  said: 

"  Make  what  conditions  you  please,  most  glorious 
queen,  I  would  accept  them  all  were  they  far  worse 
than  these.  Gladly  will  I  lay  down  my  life  if  I  fail 
to  win  you." 

Forthwith  the  royal  maiden  called  for  her  harness 
and  trappings.     She  donned  a  coat  of  mail  which 


36 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


was  impervious  to  weapon,  wrought  by  skilled  Lybian 
artisans,  edged  with  glittering  lace  and  sparkling  all 
over  with  jewels.  When  the  ground  was  cleared, 
there  formed  about  the  scene  of  action  a  circle  of 
seven  hundred  armed  men,  who  stood  there  as  um- 
pires. As  the  dread  maiden  took  her  place,  her 
spear,  weighing  an  hundred  pounds,  was  carried  for- 
ward by  three  men,  who  groaned  beneath  its  weight. 
Her  shield  was  three  spans  thick  with  gold  and  steel ; 
it  was  inlaid  with  precious  stones,  and  was  so  weighty 
that  four  chamberlains  staggered  beneath  its  load. 
Twelve  men  were  needed  to  bear  the  weight  of  the 
monstrous  stone. 

The  wily  Siegfried  had  sped  secretly  to  the  bark 
and  soon  returned  enveloped  in  his  Tarnkappe,  so 
that  he  was  wholly  concealed  from  view.  Drawing 
near  Gunther,  he  whispered  fresh  words  of  encourage- 
ment in  the  royal  ear.  These  were  indeed  well  timed, 
for  the  wooer's  heart  was  beginning  to  be  filled  with 
consternation.  Grim  Hagen,  too,  was  almost  beside 
himself  with  angry  apprehension  for  his  liege  lord, 
while  Dankwart  bewailed  the  day  that  they  had  sailed 
from  their  native  shore. 

"  Ah ! "  quoth  the  latter,  "  had  my  brother  Hagen 
and  the  rest  of  us  our  trusty  swords,  we  could  teach 
a  lesson  to  this  dread  queen  and  her  haughty  vassals. 
They  should  pay  dearly  for  the  rash  effort  if  they 
called  upon  our  beloved  liege  to  lay  down  his 
precious  life  for  a  mere  maiden's  whim." 

"  Since  such  be  your  mood,"  scornfully  ejaculated 
Brunhild,  who  had  overheard  these  words,  and  who 
now  cast  a  contemptuous  look  over  her  shoulders  as 
she  spoke,  "pray  send  for  your  trappings;  you  shall 


HOW  GUNTHER  WON  BRUNHILD. 


37 


have  your  keen-edged  swords  in  your  hands.  Little 
matters  it  to  me  whether  you  be  defenseless  or  most 
potently  equipped  for  combat.  Never  yet  have  I 
had  cause  to  fear  strength  of  mortal  man." 

Dankwart  flushed  with  pleasure  when  once  more 
his  well-tried  sword  was  within  his  grasp;  and  his 
comrades,  too,  were  filled  with  a  sense  of  relief  at 
this  compliance  with  their  wishes.  At  the  moment 
when  all  was  in  readiness  for  the  trial  of  skill, 
Siegfried  gently  touched  Gunther's  hand  and  whis- 
pered in  his  ear: 

"It  is  I,  Siegfried,  your  comrade.  Banish  all 
fear.  Let  me  take  your  shield,  and  forget  not  what 
I  tell  you.  Act  you  the  gestures,  and  I  will  do 
the  work." 

Brunhild  now  cast  her  spear,  and  with  so  much 
violence  that  sparks  scintillated  therefrom  as  it 
whizzed  through  the  air.  It  struck  the  opposing 
shield  with  such  violence  that  both  Gunther  and 
Siegfried  were  cast  to  the  ground,  although  of  course 
only  the  king's  downfall  was  apparent.  The  blood 
gushed  from  Siegfried's  nostrils,  and  had  it  not  been 
for  the  Tarnkappe,  sorry  would  have  been  the  fate 
of  both  himself  and  his  friend.  As  it  was,  both  war- 
riors arose  instantly,  and  while  Hagen  was  muttering 
his  words  of  ill  content,  pronouncing  the  fair  and 
mighty  queen  to  be  none  other  than  the  foul  fiend's 
bride,  Siegfried  picked  up  the  spear  and  hurled  it  back. 
As  he  did  not  desire  to  kill  his  fair  opponent,  he 
turned  the  spear's  blunt  side ;  nevertheless  the  queen 
was  dashed  to  the  ground.  Quickly  regaining  her 
feet,  the  fearless  maiden  cried,  taking  it  for  granted 
that  the  Burgundian  king  was  acting  himself: 


38 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"Well  done,  indeed,  Sir  Gunther;  but  do  not 
think  me  conquered  yet.  We  have  still  to  hurl  the 
stone  and  to  leap." 

Her  white  arms  raising  the  monstrous  stone  high 
in  the  air,  while  her  eyes  flashed  fury,  she  swung  it 
to  and  fro  for  several  moments  with  terrific  display 
of  strength,  and  then  cast  it  twelve  fathoms,  leaping 
after  it  with  marvelous  agility.  Accompanied  by  the 
invisible  Siegfried,  Gunther  approached  the  spot 
where  the  stone  lay,  placed  his  hands  upon  it  and 
seemed  to  cast  it.  In  reality  it  was  Siegfried  who 
hurled  it  still  farther  than  Brunhild  had  done,  and 
snatching  up  Gunther  leaped  far  beyond  the  stone, 
carrying  him.  Believing  Gunther  to  have  performed 
these  feats  of  his  own  strength,  Brunhild  confessed 
herself  conquered  by  him,  and  proclaimed  to  her 
people  that  Gunther  was  thenceforth  their  lord. 

Siegfried  hastened  to  the  bark,  laid  aside  his 
cloak  of  invisibility  and  returned  to  the  castle.  His 
comrades,  with  the  queen  and  her  people,  were  assem- 
bled in  the  great  hall  of  the  fortress,  and  as  he 
joined  them  he  began,  in  the  most  unconstrained 
manner  possible,  to  inquire  when  the  games  would 
take  place. 

"  Why,  Sir  Siegfried,  where  have  you  been ! " 
exclaimed  Brunhild ;  "  the  games  are  over,  and 
your  liege  is  victorious." 

Hagen  here  took  it  upon  himself  to  explain  that 
Siegfried  had  been  busied  in  the  bark,  and  that  in 
the  universal  excitement  none  of  them  had  thought 
of  summoning  him.  Siegfried  interrupted  him  by 
exclaiming : 

"Well  pleased  am  I,  noble  king's  daughter,  that 


HOW  GUNTHER  WON  BRUNHILD. 


39 


the  man  lives  who  is  worthy  to  be  your  lord.  So 
then  we  shall  carry  you  back  with  us  to  the  Rhine." 

"  Be  not  so  hasty,"  spake  Brunhild.  "  Before 
ceding  my  land  to  other  rule  I  must  hold  counsel 
with  my  vassals." 

In  truth  her  messengers  had  been  already  sent 
forth  to  bid  her  liegemen  assemble  without  delay  in 
Tsenstein.  Ere  the  lapse  of  many  days  the  fortress 
was  filled  with  armed  men.  Hagen  felt  that  this 
movement  portended  mischief,  but  the  deft  Siegfried, 
ablest  of  men,  speedily  stilled  all  fears  by  promising 
to  produce  a  yet  more  potent  array  of  warriors. 
Gunther  eagerly  asked  how  this  could  be  done,  but 
Siegfried  declined  explaining,  saying  that  the  re- 
sources at  his  command  must  remain  secret  for  the 
present.  Then  the  king  expressed  a  reluctance  at 
parting,  even  temporarily,  with  his  friend,  but  Sieg- 
fried promised  a  speedy  return  with  one  thousand 
trusty  knights.  Should  the  queen  note  his  absence, 
he  said,  it  would  be  advisable  to  tell  her  that  the 
king  had  sent  him  on  some  important  mission. 


EIGHTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  FARED  TO  THE  NIBELUNGENLAND. 

SIEGFRIED  went  down  to  the  beach,  where  the 
bark  was  moored,  stepped  on  board,  after  don- 
ning his  Tarnkappe,  and  pushed  off  from  shore. 
Whoever  could  see  that  vessel  would  naturally  be- 
lieve it  to  be  drifting  thence  without  human  aid, 
impelled  by  a  strong  breeze.  In  reality,  as  we  know, 
it  was  guided  by  Siegfried,  who  was  stoutly  rowing 
toward  the  Nibelungen  land,  where  were  stored  his 
hard-earned  treasures. 

Within  twenty-four  hours  the  hero  reached  the 
mysterious  country  which  was  his  goal.  Securing 
his  bark  to  the  shore  of  the  broad  island,  he  sought 
shelter,  as  any  wayfarer  might  have  done,  at  the 
gates  of  a  fortress  situated  on  a  mountain.  The 
gates  were  bolted  and  barred  according  to  the  cus- 
tom of  the  land,  and  Siegfried  knocked  loudly  for 
admittance.  A  mighty  giant  was  the  porter,  and  he 
angrily  cried : 

"Who  knocks  thus  violently  at  the  gate?" 
Disguising  his  voice,  bold  Siegfried  replied : 
"  I  am  a  stranger  knight.    Make  open  to  me  at 
once,  I  conjure  you,  or  I  will  this  night  arouse  with 
no  gentle  hand  those  who  would  gladly  take  their 
sleep." 

Seizing  his  sword,  the  giant  flung  open  the  gates, 
and  sprang  with  furious  might  upon  Siegfried.  A 


FARED  TO  THE  KIBELUNGENLAND.  41 


terrible  struggle  ensued,  but  although  Siegfried  was 
sorely  pressed,  he  finally  overcame  the  giant.  lie 
had  no  desire  to  take  the  trusty  porter's  life,  there- 
fore merely  bound  him  with  cords  and  left  him  dis- 
abled upon  the  ground.  The  noise  of  the  contest 
had  reached  the  ears  of  Alberich  the  dwarf,  and  at 
this  juncture  he  appeared,  grasping  his  seven-thonged 
whip,  each  thong  of  which  was  mounted  with  a  gold- 
en knob.  Furious  indeed  was  the  onslaught  he  made 
upon  Siegfried,  but  the  latter,  seizing  his  powerful 
opponent  by  the  long  beard,  hurled  him  to  the 
ground.  Alberich  piteously  begged  for  mercy,  and 
cried : 

"Truly  do  I  see  that  you  are  a  mighty  hero. 
Were  I  not  already  the  vassal  of  an  invincible 
knight,  I  would  proudly  serve  you  my  life  long. 
Prithee  tell  me  your  name,  that  I  may  know  by 
whom  I  have  been  conquered." 

"  I  am  Siegfried,"  was  the  calm  reply. 

"  Then  indeed  are  you  rightfully  master  of  this 
land,"  exclaimed  Alberich,  overjoyed  at  this  an- 
nouncement. "  Spare  my  life,  my  liege,  and  I  will 
gladly  do  whatever  you  command." 

"  Hasten,  then,"  said  Siegfried,  relaxing  his  hold, 
"  to  arouse  for  me  the  Nibelungen  hosts.  Make 
ready  one  thousand  men  to  accompany  me  hence 
forthwith,  and  no  harm  shall  befall  you." 

With  these  words  he  set  both  Alberich  and  the 
giant  at  liberty,  and  they  lost  no  time  in  acquaint- 
ing the  Nibelungen  hosts  with  Siegfried's  orders. 
The  warriors  sprang  joyously  from  their  beds  and 
hastened  to  make  ready  to  greet  their  liege  lord. 
Soon  there  were  assembled  three  thousand  knights, 


42 


ECHOES  FKOM  MIST-LAND. 


and  of  these  Siegfried  selected  one  thousand  of  the 
ablest  and  best.  He  bade  them  equip  in  all  the 
splendor  at  their  command,  in  order  to  sail  with  him 
far  over  the  seas,  and  his  orders  were  obeyed  with 
incredible  speed. 

One  morning  Gunther  stood  with  Brunhild  at  her 
castle  window,  and  both  were  gazing  out  over  the  blue 
waters.    Suddenly  the  royal  maiden  exclaimed  : 

"  What  ships  can  those  be  yonder,  with  the  snow- 
white  sails?    The  sea  is  studded  with  them." 

"  That  is  the  fleet  of  my  body-guard,"  boldly  re- 
plied Gunther.  "It  has  been  awaiting  my  orders, 
and  comes  hither  now  at  my  command  to  escort  us 
home." 

Brunhild  saw  herself  outwitted,  and  meekly  asked 
the  king  how  she  should  receive  the  unlooked-for 
guests.  Gunther  begged  of  her  to  go  forward  her- 
self to  meet  them,  and  she  did  as  he  desired.  Thus 
it  came  to  pass  that  the  Nibelungen  hosts  were  en- 
tertained in  princely  fashion. 

Brunhild  wished  to  bestow  gifts  upon  her  new 
guests,  after  the  custom  of  the  day ;  but  the  task  of 
providing  for  such  a  host  being  no  trifling  one,  she 
declared  that  she  would  be  forever  grateful  to  whom- 
soever would  assume  it  for  her.  Dankwart  there- 
upon offered  his  services,  and  handing  him  her  ke}rs, 
the  queen  bade  him  dispense  gold  and  fine  raiment 
as  he  saw  fit.  With  lavish  hand  Hagen's  brother 
scattered  around  the  treasure  stores  of  Isenstein,  and 
the  poor  of  the  land,  as  wTell  as  the  stranger  knights, 
were  by  him  loaded  with  costly  presents.  Brunhild 
finally  became  alarmed,  and  piteously  appealed  to  the 
king. 


FARED  TO  THE  NIBELUNGENLAND.  43 


"  Your  chamberlain  is  squandering  all  my  treas- 
ures," quoth  she,  "  and  my  presses  will,  I  fear,  be 
utterly  despoiled  of  raiment.  He  seems  to  fancy  that 
I  have  sent  for  death  to  fetch  me,  and  I  mean  to  live. 
Whither  I  now  go  I  can  surely  bear  with  me  my 
heritage." 

" Noble  lady,"  here  interposed  Hagen,  "the  king 
of  the  Rhineland  is  so  rich  in  gold  and  fine  raiment 
that  it  is  needless  for  you  to  bear  hence  any  of  your 
own  possessions." 

"  Nay,  if  you  love  me,"  began  the  queen,  turning 
to  Gunther,  "permit  me  to  carry  with  me  at  least 
twenty  traveling  chests  filled  with  gold,  precious 
stones  and  silks.  If  this  be  granted  me  I  will  joy- 
fully dispense  my  treasures  with  my  own  hands  so 
soon  as  we  reach  Burgundy." 

It  was  impossible  to  deny  her  request,  and  the 
packing  began  forthwith.  The  queen,  however,  to 
the  intense  amusement  of  Gunther  and  Hagen,  was 
unwilling  to  trust  this  entirely  to  Dankwart's  super- 
vision, but  insisted  that  her  own  people  should  be 
present. 

And  now  Brunhild  appointed  her  mother's  broth- 
er regent  of  Isenland  until  Gunther's  officials  should 
arrive,  selected  for  her  escort  eighty-six  noble  dames, 
one  hundred  beauteous  damsels,  and  two  thousand 
brave  knights,  took  leave  of  those  who  were  to  remain 
behind,  and  then  set  forth  upon  her  journey.  It  was 
the  noble  maiden's  last  farewell  to  her  fatherland. 
The  winds  being  propitious,  the  vessels  were  soon  far 
out  at  sea,  and  as  arrangements  had  been  made  for 
every  conceivable  pastime,  the  voyage  was  a  right 
merry  one. 


NINTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  SENT  TO  WORMS. 

ON  the  ninth  day  of  the  homeward  voyage, 
Hagen  called  Gunther's  attention  to  the  ad- 
visability of  dispatching  messengers  to  Worms,  in 
order  to  relieve  the  anxiety  at  court,  and  order  suit- 
able preparation  to  be  made  for  the  reception  of  the 
bride.  King  Gunther  was  pleased  with  this  sugges- 
tion, and  at  once  declared  that  no  one  was  better 
fitted  for  such  a  mission  than  Ilagen  himself.  Hagen, 
however,  objected. 

"  Nay,  dear  liege,"  said  he,  "  no  pleasing  messen- 
ger am  I.  Let  me  stay  with  the  fleet,  and  ask  Sieg- 
fried to  go  instead.  Should  he  object,  urge  him  to 
comply  for  love  of  your  sister." 

So  Gunther  sent  for  Siegfried  and  affectionately 
laid  the  case  before  him,  saying  that  it  would  be  a 
great  relief  to  his  mind  to  have  so  well  tried  a  friend 
bear  the  glad  tidings  to  Worms.  The  high-minded 
Siegfried  rather  hesitated  at  first,  but  when  the  king 
urged  him  to  precede  the  fleet  for  Kriemhild's  sake, 
he  demurred  no  longer. 

"  You  have  but  to  command,  and  I  will  obey 
anything  that  is  for  the  sake  of  the  peerless  maiden 
whose  image  reigns  supreme  within  my  heart,"  cried 
the  hero. 

Thereupon  King  Gunther  besought  his  friend  to 
lose  no  time  in  relieving  the  anxiety  of  dame  Ute, 

44 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  SENT  TO  WORMS.  45 

Kriemhild  and  all  who  were  at  court,  and  to  implore 
the  lovely  Kriemhild,  in  especial,  to  accord  her  most 
gracious  welcome  to  the  high-born  bride.  Also  he 
sent  a  loving  message  to  Ortwin,  requesting  him  to 
oversee  the  arrangements  for  a  princely  reception. 
After  receiving  his  orders,  Siegfried  paid  his  respects 
to  Queen  Brunhild,  and  with  a  company  of  four-and- 
twenty  knights  entered  a  small  vessel  and  steered  for 
shore.  The  champions  took  with  them  their  horses, 
and  when  they  landed  they  rode  along  the  Rhine 
banks  to  Worms. 

When  the  people  saw  Siegfried  enter  the  city 
without  their  king,  they  were  filled  with  consterna- 
tion. Noble  Gemot  and  good-  young  Giselher  ran 
out  to  meet  their  friend  as  he  approached  the  castle, 
and  Giselher  exclaimed: 

"  Welcome,  Sir  Siegfried  !  What  tidings  do  you 
bring  ?  Where  is  our  brother  ?  Where  are  our  other 
friends?  Woe  betide  the  day  they  left  their  homes 
if  their  lives  have  been  forfeited  to  haughty  Brun- 
hild's might ! " 

"Away  with  your  fears,"  rejoined  Siegfried;  "your 
brother  himself  hath  sent  me  hither  to  bid  you  make 
ready  for  the  reception  of  his  bride." 

Then  he  proceeded  to  relate  to  attentive  listeners 
the  adventures  at  Isenstein,  and  begged  that  the  joy- 
ful tidings  might  be  borne  without  delay  to  dame 
Ute  and  fair  Kriemhild. 

"  Bear  them  yourself,"  cried  young  Giselher ;  "  it 
will  please  my  sister  well.  Anxiety  for  our  brother 
has  heavily  oppressed  the  maiden's  heart.  You  will 
prove  a  welcome  guest  to  her,  I  can  vouch  for  that." 

"  Wherein  I  can  serve  the  peerless  maiden,"  spake 


46 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Siegfried,  the  knight,  "I  shall  always  be  found  faith- 
ful.   Who  will  announce  me  to  the  ladies?" 

"That  will  I  do,"  replied  Giselher,  that  noble 
youth,  and  forthwith  he  hastened  to  seek  his  mother 
and  sister.  He  told  them  that  the  hero  of  the  Nether- 
lands had  arrived  with  tidings  of  their  king,  and  that 
he  desired  to  hold  audience  with  them. 

The  ladies  hied  them  to  their  robing-rooms,  and 
after  arraying  themselves  in  all  the  splendor  at  their 
command,  they  sent  word  to  Siegfried  that  they 
awaited  his  pleasure.  Gladly  did  the  noble  youth 
avail  himself  of  this  permission,  rejoicing  at  the  op- 
portunity of  beholding  without  delay  the  lady  of  his 
love.  When  he  came  into  her  presence,  Kriemhild, 
that  lovely  maiden,  thus  addressed  him : 

''Welcome,  Sir  Siegfried,  knight  beyond  compare! 
Where  tarries  my  brother  Gunther,  the  noble  king? 
Much  fear  I  that  through  Brunhild's  cruel  might  he 
is  lost  to  us.    Ah,  woe  is  me,  poor  maiden ! " 

Then  spake  the  dauntless  knight : 

"Now  give  me  messenger's  fee,"  he  cried.  "Your 
tears,  fair  ladies,  have  been  shed  without  a  cause.  I 
come  direct  from  the  king  with  tidings  of  his  suc- 
cess." 

Hereupon  he  narrated  all  that  he  deemed  expedi- 
ent of  the  experiences  the  little  party  of  brave  knights 
had  undergone.  Kriemhild  brushed  the  glittering 
tears  from  her  eyes,  and  her  whole  face  shone  with 
radiance  as  her  ruby  lips  parted  to  give  utterance  to 
the  gratitude  swelling  her  heart.  In  her  snow-white 
garments  she  presented  an  appearance  of  rare  loveli- 
ness as  she  bade  the  princely  messenger  be  seated, 
and  thus  accosted  him: 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  SENT  TO  WORMS. 


47 


"  How  gladly  would  I  shower  upon  you  my  gold 
in  messenger's  fee!  Yet  you  are,  I  know,  of  too 
high  estate.  Therefore  accept,  I  pray  you,  my  life- 
long gratitude." 

"  And  were  I  lord  of  thirty  realms,"  was  impetu- 
ous Siegfried's  reply,  "  I  should  gladly  accept  gifts 
from  your  hand." 

"  Then  shall  you  be  gratified,"  cried  the  damsel, 
and  dispatched  her  treasurer  for  the  costly  guerdon. 
Four-and-twenty  bracelets,  richly  studded  with  pre- 
cious stones,  she  then  presented  with  her  own  white 
hands  to  the  hero.  Eejoiced  as  Siegfried  was  to  re- 
ceive them,  it  would  have  been  contrary  to  knightly 
custom  to  retain  these  gifts;  he  therefore  graciously 
distributed  them  among  the  court  maidens. 

Dame  Ute  had  also  been  profuse  in  her  expressions 
of  delight  over  the  warrior's  glad  tidings,  and  she 
freely  promised  to  see  that  her  beloved  son's  orders 
about  the  guests'  reception  were  executed.  Siegfried 
finally  told  Kriemhild  how  desirous  her  brother  was 
to  have  her  accord  a  loving  welcome  to  his  bride. 

"  His  will  shall  be  done,"  said  the  fair  maiden. 
"  Wherein  I  can  serve  my  brother  he  shall  never  be 
denied." 

Siegfried  now  departed,  feeling  assured  that  never 
before  had  messenger  been  so  graciously  received. 

Orders  were  forthwith  given  for  the  decoration 
of  the  palace ;  guests  were  invited  to  watch  for  the 
approach  of  the  fleet,  seats  thrown  up  on  the  beach 
for  their  accommodation,  while  knights  and  peerless 
ladies  prepared  to  go  forth  on  horseback.  Six-and- 
eighty  dames  and  many  a  blooming  damsel,  each 
mounted  on  a  gentle  palfrey,  with  fair  Kriemhild  at 
their  head,  presented  an  imposing  effect. 


TENTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  GUNTHER  CELEBRATED   HIS  NUPTIALS  WITH 
BRUNHILD. 

THE  vessels  with  their  royal  freight  gallantly 
neared  the  shore.  Old  Queen  Ute  herself 
rode  forth  with  the  equestrian  party  to  meet  the 
king  and  his  bride.  Brave  Ortwin  led  the  noble 
dame's  horse  by  the  bridle,  while  the  margrave.  Gere, 
did  like  service  for  fair  Kriemhild,  on  whose  other 
side  proudly  rode  Siegfried,  ever  ready  to  proffer  his 
aid.    Thus  rode  a  knight  beside  each  lady. 

Knights  and  ladies  dismounted  as  Gunther,  Brun- 
hild, and  their  united  retinues,  stepped  ashore.  After 
saluting  her  brother,  sweet  Kriemhild  warmly  ex- 
tended her  hand  to  the  stranger  queen,  and  exclaimed : 
"  Most  welcome  are  you  to  our  land !  My  mother 
and  I,  with  all  the  friends  who  are  true  to  us,  greet 
you  lovingly." 

Then  the  two  royal  maidens  fell  into  each  other's 
arms,  and  each  bestowed  repeated  kisses  upon  the 
other's  rosy  lips.  Dame  Ute  also  received  her  son's 
bride  with  the  utmost  tenderness.  While  all  the 
needful  presentations  and  salutations  were  taking 
place,  Brunhild  and  Kriemhild  stood  side  by  side, 
gazing  admiringly  at  each  other,  and  many  a  hero 
present  thought  that  more  lovely  a  spectacle  had 
never  been  witnessed. 

So  soon  as  knights  and  ladies  had  taken  their 

48 


HOW  GUNTHER  CELEBRATED  HIS  NUPTIALS.  49 


places  on  horseback,  or  on  the  scaffoldings  erected 
for  the  accommodation  of  guests,  there  was  held  a 
grand  tournament  of  rejoicing ;  lances  flew  hither 
and  thither  in  wild  confusion,  and  the  -whole  Rhine 
beach  was  alive  with  excitement.  Not  least  among 
the  feats  of  skill  were  those  performed  by  Siegfried 
and  his  Nibelungen  knights, —  in  fact,  Siegfried,  as 
usual,  bore  off  the  palm.  At  set  of  sun,  when  the 
cool  breezes  were  wrafted  over  from  the  river,  the 
guests  were  ushered  into  the  palace,  where  a  most 
sumptuous  banquet  awaited  their  coming.  Dame 
Ute  and  fair  Kriemliild  retired  with  their  retinues, 
as  was  customary,  to  their  owrn  hall,  while  King 
Gunther  proceeded  to  lead  Queen  Brunhild  to  his 
own  royal  table.  At  this  moment  Siegfried  ap- 
proached and  reminded  his  friend,  as  he  was  most 
truly  entitled  to  do,  of  a  certain  vow. 

"  Pause  a  moment,"  cried  the  hero  of  the  Nether- 
lands, aand  think  of  your  vow  to  bestow  upon  me 
your  sister's  hand.  I  kept  all  my  promises  and 
refused  you  no  service." 

"  You  remind  me  well,"  spake  the  host  of  the 
Rhine.    "I  never  break  my  word." 

Kriemhild  was  forthwith  summoned  into  her 
brother's  presence.  She  appeared,  surrounded  by  her 
maidens;  but  Giselher,  springing  from  his  place,  urged 
the  dismissal  of  these,  in  order  that  his  sister  might 
hold  audience  alone  with  the  king.  So  Kriemhild 
was  led  to  the  spot  where  her  brother  Gunther  awaited 
her.  Brunhild  had  been  already  seated  at  table. 
Then  spake  King  Dankrat's  heir: 

"  Help  me,  trusty  friends,  in  persuading  my  sister 
to  take  Siegfried  for  her  wedded  lord." 


50 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"Ay,  that  were  well  done,"  was  the  unanimous 
reply. 

"  Sister,  noble  maiden,"  then  continued  the  king, 
turning  to  the  blushing  fair  one,  "in  the  name  of 
your  virtue  aid  me  in  fulfilling  my  vow.  I  promised 
your  hand  to  a  brave  knight,  and  if  you  take  him 
for  your  husband  you  will  please  me  well." 

"  Dear  brother,"  replied  the  maiden,  "  as  you  com- 
mand so  shall  I  obey.  The  knight  whom  you  have 
chosen  I  will  accept." 

Siegfried  flushed  with  rapturous  delight,  and  has- 
tened forward  to  offer  fair  Kriemhild  his  hand.  She 
accepted  it  shyly,  after  the  wont  of  maidens,  and 
thus,  surrounded  by  the  king  and  his  heroes,  this 
significant  betrothal  took  place.  In  the  presence  of 
all  the  knights,  Siegfried  clasped  the  glorious  maiden 
in  his  arms  and  imprinted  ardent  kisses  upon  her 
rosy  lips.  After  this  the  pair  were  conducted  to  the 
seats  of  honor,  where  they  were  waited  upon  with 
all  due  ceremony,  and  overwhelmed  with  heartfelt 
congratulations. 

King  Gunther  returned  to  the  side  of  the  wait- 
ing Brunhild.  The  latter  was  sorely  troubled  at 
seeing  Kriemhild  take  her  seat  beside  Siegfried,  and 
she  wept  until  the  tears  fell  in  torrents  over  her 
lovely  cheeks. 

"What  is  it,  my  spouse?"  spake  the  host  of  the 
land ;  "  what  thus  clouds  the  dazzling  splendor  of 
your  eyes?  Surely  this  is  a  season  of  rejoicing,  for 
my  land,  my  rich  fortresses,  and  my  many  faithful 
knights,  are  now  subject  to  you." 

"Rather  is  it  a  season  of  lamentation,"  replied 
Brunhild.     "  My  heart  is  heavy  for  your  sister.  I 


HOW  GUNTHER  CELEBRATED  HIS  NUPTIALS.  51 


have  seen  her  take  her  seat  at  your  vassal's  side. 
Does  it  not  behoove  me  to  bewail  her  downfall?" 

"Let  us  not  speak  of  it  now,"  said  King  Gun- 
ther.  "  Some  other  time  I  will  explain  to  you  how 
Kriemhild  came  to  be  given  to  Siegfried  in  marriage. 
Believe  me,  she  will  be  happy  with  him." 

"  Her  sorrowful  fate  grieves  me  because  of  her 
beauty,"  persisted  Brunhild.  "  I  shall  never  be  your 
wedded  wife  until  you  tell  me  wherefore  Kriemhild 
is  permitted  to  become  Siegfried's  bride." 

"  It  is  easily  told,"  replied  the  king.  "  Siegfried 
is  himself  a  king's  son,  and  will  one  day  rule  over 
fortresses  and  broad  lands.  Therefore  have  I  allowed 
him  to  woo  our  glorious  maid  beyond  compare." 

Still  Brunhild  failed  to  be  satisfied,  and  she 
continued  sorrowful  throughout  the  remainder  of  the 
festivities.  That  night,  after  the  princely  couples  had 
been  conducted  with  great  pomp  to  the  bridal  cham- 
bers, Brunhild  again  entreated  her  lord  to  unfold  to 
her  the  entire  secret  of  his  sister's  marriage.  He 
deftly  evaded  her  queries,  as  he  had  done  before ; 
whereupon  the  dread  queen,  feeling  convinced  that 
she  was  being  deceived,  seized  her  royal  spouse  in 
her  powerful  arms,  bound  him  hand  and  foot  with 
a  certain  magic  girdle  she  wore,  and  hung  him 
thereby  to  a  nail  on  the  wall. 

Poor  Gunther's  heart  sank  within  him  at  this 
new  proof  of  the  vast  strength  of  his  bride,  who, 
he  began  to  fear,  might  be  the  foul  fiend  in  woman's 
form.  He  who  should  have  been  master  was  reduced 
to  humbly  suing  for  his  release,  but  she  to  whom  his 
words  were  addressed  paid  them  no  heed.  Ere  long 
the  inexorable  Brunhild  was  wrapt  in  a  peaceful 


52 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


slumber,  while  King  Gunther  vibrated,  suspended 
from  his  peg,  until  morning  dawned. 

The  ensuing  day  the  joustings  and  merry-makings 
were  resumed,  but  it  was  a  touching  sight,  acting 
like  a  damper  upon  all  who  came  into  contact  with 
him,  to  see  with  how  sorrowful  a  mien  King  Gun- 
ther wore  his  crown.  Siegfried  noted  this,  as  the 
two  friends  met  after  early  mass,  and  inquired  into 
the  cause,  although  he  well  divined  it.  Gunther 
confided  to  him  the  events  of  the  preceding  night, 
showed  his  swollen  hands,  and  told  how  utterly 
exhausted  he  felt.  Siegfried's  noble  heart  glowed 
with  tender  compassion,  and  he  hastened  to  promise 
his  royal  friend  that  if  he  would  listen  to  his  counsel 
all  should  yet  be  well. 

"I  am  so  happy  with  your  sister,"  said  he,  "that 
I  must  see  you  also  happy.  To-night,  with  your 
consent,  I  will  come  to  your  chamber,  concealed 
from  viewT  in  my  Tarnkappe,  and  will  wrest  from 
haughty  Brunhild  her  girdle  and  the  magic  ring  she 
wears.  In  these  lie  the  secret  of  her  supernatural 
strength ;  without  them  she  will  be  as  tractable  as 
any  other  woman." 

Gunther  was  only  too  glad  to  accept  this  offer, 
and  it  was  agreed  that  the  extinguishing  of  a  lamp 
in  the  ante-chamber  should  be  the  signal  of  Sieg- 
fried's approach.  With  lightened  heart  the  host  of 
the  Rhineland  now  participated  in  the  day's  festivi- 
ties, and  he  smilingly  regarded  his  beauteous  bride, 
elated  at  the  thought  of  his  forthcoming  triumph. 

That  night  Brunhild  once  more  insisted  upon 
Gunther's  imparting  to  her  the  desired  information, 
but  he,  depending  upon  Siegfried,  whom  by  the 


HOW  GUNTHER  CELEBRATED  HIS  NUPTIALS.  53 


agreed  signal  he  knew  to  be  present,  refused.  The 
queen  sprang  forward  to  bind  him  as  before,  but 
Siegfried,  in  his  Tarnkappe,  resisted  the  attack  in 
Gunther's  stead.  A  terrible  struggle  ensued,  and 
many  times  it  seemed  as  though  one  of  the  oppo- 
nents must  assuredly  fall  victim  to  the  other's  mar- 
velous strength.  Gunther  awaited  the  result  with 
anxious  apprehensions,  and  felt  wondrously  relieved 
when  finally  both  girdle  and  ring  were  wrested  from 
proud  Brunhild,  thus  ending  the  struggle.  Having 
no  reason  to  suppose  herself  conquered  by  other 
than  her  own  lord,  the  queen,  though  indignant,  was 
filled  with  new  respect  for  Gunther,  and  henceforth 
was  very  humble  in  her  demeanor  toward  him. 

Meanwhile  Siegfried  returned  to  his  own  lovely 
spouse.  He  had  disappeared  very  mysteriously  from 
her  side,  and  she  had  been  greatly  puzzled  thereby. 
Now  when  he  rejoined  her  she  plied  him  with 
questions.  These  he  at  first  evaded,  but  finally, 
having  perfect  confidence  in  the  wife  of  his  bosom, 
he  told  her  what  had  occurred.  Alas!  how  many 
brave  knights  were  brought  to  their  end  through  this 
one  rash  act  of  confidence !  A  curse  was  on  the 
ill-fated  ring  and  girdle,  and  if  they  did  not  endow 
Kriemhild  with  the  magic  strength  of  their  former 
possessor,  they  made  her,  nevertheless,  the  instru- 
ment of  incalculable  mischief. 

The  wedding  festivities  lasted  until  the  twelfth 
day,  and  during  the  whole  time  the  castle  walls 
rang  with  sounds  of  joustings  and  merriment.  Pres- 
ents were  distributed  without  stint  —  costly  garments, 
jewels,  gold  and  richly  caparisoned  horses.  Then  the 
guests  departed,  and  the  high-tide  was  at  an  end. 


ELEVENTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  JOURNEYED  HOME  WITH  HIS  BRIDE. 

HEN  all  the  guests  were  gone,  King  Sieg- 
mund's  son  ordered  his  people  to  make 
ready  to  return  home.  This  delighted  Kriemhild, 
for  she  was  all  eagerness  to  behold  her  husband's 
land,  and  she  was  impatient  to  set  forth.  Siegfried 
was  not  a  little  pleased  thereby,  but  he  was  quite 
as  much  pained  when  he  learned  that  his  dear  wife 
had  demanded  a  fourth  part  of  the  estate  of  her 
fathers  for  her  dower. 

The  royal  brethren  were  perfectly  willing  to 
make  the  division,  but  Siegfried  proudly  declined. 
He  told  his  friends  that  Kriemhild  could  readily 
dispense  with  her  portion  of  their  lands,  since 
through  her  marriage  she  had  become  one  of  the 
wealthiest  women  upon  earth,  but  he  expressed  his 
thanks  for  the  well-meant  offer. 

"  If  you  disdain  my  heritage,"  cried  dame 
Kriemhild,  "  let  me  at  least  take  with  me  an  escort 
of  the  Burgundian  knights.  No  king  need  scorn  to 
be  followed  by  these  to  his  own  land." 

This  suggestion  met  with  universal  approbation, 
and  Gemot  assured  his  sister  that  she  was  welcome 
to  one  thousand  chosen  knights.  So  Kriemhild  sum- 
moned Hagen  and  Ortwin,  and  asked  whether  they 
were  willing  to  accompany  her,  with  those  under 

54 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  JOURNEYED  HOME.  55 


their  command.  Hagen,  flashing  wrathful  glances 
about  him,  proudly  refused,  in  the  name  of  both. 

"  Our  place  is  with  our  lieges,"  quoth  he.  "  King 
Gunther  cannot  resign  us  to  any  one  in  the  world. 
Seek  other  vassals  to  accompany  you  to  the  stran- 
ger's land." 

Thereupon  Kriemhild  appointed  margrave  Ecke- 
wart  to  lead  her  escort  of  live  hundred  knights,  con- 
sidering this  number  ample,  and  thirty-two  maidens. 
A  tender  leave-taking  ensued,  after  which  the  prince- 
ly pair  and  their  retinue  set  forth  from  the  Burgun- 
dian  land.  Messengers  were  dispatched  onward  to 
inform  King  Siegmund  and  Queen  Siegelind  that 
their  beloved  son  was  approaching  with  his  bride, 
fair  Kriemhild.  No  tidings  could  have  occasioned 
greater  rejoicings. 

"  Blest  be  the  day,"  cried  father  Siegmund,  "  that 
shall  see  fair  Kriemhild  wear  our  crown  !  The  worth 
of  my  heritage  is  enhanced  to  me  through  these  tid- 
ings. My  son  Siegfried  must  now  consent  to  be 
crowned  king." 

Siegelind  bestowed  upon  the  messengers  gar- 
ments of  crimson  velvet,  also  much  gold  and  sil- 
ver. Then  she  made  ready  with  many  beautiful 
ladies,  and  sallied  forth  with  her  husband  and  his 
knights  to  meet  her  children.  They  made  a  day's 
journey  to  a  fortress  called  Santen  before  they  met 
the  bridal  suite.  Both  Siegmund  and  Siegelind  be- 
stowed many  fond  kisses  upon  dame  Ute's  fair  child, 
as  well  as  upon  their  own  brave  Siegfried.  The 
anxiety  that  had  long  oppressed  the  noble  parents 
was  now  wholly  removed,  and  they  bore  joyful  coun- 
tenances while  welcoming  their  guests. 


56 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Magnificent  as  had  been  the  wedding  festivities 
at  Worms,  they  were  excelled  by  those  in  the  Neth- 
erlands. The  heroes  were  presented  with  more  cost- 
ly jewel-studded  garments  than  they  had  ever  before 
worn,  and  all  marveled  at  the  evidences  of  unexam- 
pled wealth.  While  the  rejoicings  were  at  their 
height,  King  Siegmund  proclaimed  his  determina- 
tion to  abdicate  in  favor  of  his  son.  This  proclama- 
tion met  with  universal  approbation,  and  without 
further  delay  Siegfried  was  crowned  king.  For 
many  a  long  day  he  reigned  in  peace  and  joy,  and 
there  was  sunshine  throughout  the  realm. 

This  was  interrupted  by  but  one  sad  occurrence, 
and  that  was  the  death  of  good  Queen  Siegelind.  She 
was  buried  with  all  due  pomp,  and  her  place  thence- 
forth filled  by  Kriemhild.  Just  before  the  old  queen's 
death,  Kriemhild  had  presented  her  fond  husband 
with  a  boy,  who  was  the  pride  of  both  parents  and 
grandparents.  The  child  was  christened  Gunther,  out 
of  compliment  to  his  uncle,  the  Burgundian  king.  In 
return,  Gunther  and  Brunhild  named  their  first  child, 
also  a  boy,  Siegfried.  Both  royal  couples  bestowed 
every  attention  upon  the  training  and  education  of 
their  sons,  being  determined  that  nothing  which 
might  tend  to  their  weal  should  be  left  undone. 

The  Kibelungen  lands  remained  subject  to  Sieg- 
fried. The  hoard  had  been  bestowed  by  him  upon 
Kriemhild  as  a  bridal  portion.  The  Nibelungen 
knights  never  ceased  to  feel  pride  in  their  liege  lord, 
and  indeed  all  over  whom  the  hero  reigned  were 
crowned  with  unwonted  prosperity.  Truly  might  it 
be  said  that  never  did  nobler  knight  sit  upon  horse 
than  brave  Siegfried  of  old. 


TWELFTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  GUNTHER  INVITED  SIEGFRIED  TO  A  GRAND 
HIGH-TIDE. 

YEARS  rolled  swiftly  by,  and  dame  Brunhild 
never  ceased  to  marvel  why  Kriemhild  had 
been  permitted  to  wed  a  vassal.  Also,  she  felt  sore- 
ly perplexed  to  know  how  Siegfried  had  become  a 
vassal  in  the  first  place,  and  being  such,  why  he  never 
came  to  pay  his  respects  to  his  liege  lord.  Over  all 
this  she  brooded  in  secret,  not  daring  to  broach  the 
subject  to  Gunther. 

One  day  she  told  her  husband  that  she  ardently 
longed  once  more  to  behold  their  dear  Kriemhild. 
Her  mind  was  constantly  filled  with  recollections  of 
their  first  meeting,  she  said,  and  her  greatest  desire 
was  to  have  a  visit  from  lovely  Kriemhild  and  brave 
Siegfried. 

"How  were  it  possible  to  bring  them  here?" 
said  Gunther ;  "  I  dare  not  ask  them  to  come,  they 
live  too  far  distant." 

"Let  a  vassal  be  ever  so  mighty  or  far  distant," 
haughtily  cried  dame  Brunhild,  "he  is  bound  to 
heed  the  bidding  of  his  liege  lord." 

King  Gunther  quietly  smiled  to  himself  at  these 
arrogant  words,  but  did  not  see  fit  to  make  direct 
reply  thereto.  However,  when  Brunhild  continued 
to  weary  him  with  her  importunities,  he  told  her 

57 


58 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


that  no  guests  in  the  world  could  be  more  welcome 
at  court  than  precisely  these  dear  relatives,  and  he 
promised  to  summon  them  forthwith.  So  he  dis- 
patched margrave  Gere  wTith  thirty  knights  to  Sieg- 
fried's land  to  invite  the  hero  and  his  wife  to  attend 
a  gay  high-tide  to  be  held  at  Worms  the  ensuing 
summer  solstice. 

"  Tell  our  dear  brother,"  said  he  to  the  margrave 
at  parting,  "  that  my  royal  spouse  and  I  will  be 
ever  grateful  to  him  if  he  grant  us  this  favor.  Say 
to  him  that  he  will  find  here  many  knights  who 
are  ever  ready  to  do  him  honor,  and  beseech  him 
to  bring  with  him  such  of  his  own  knights  as  he 
may  choose.  Make  also  my  deepest  reverence  to 
good  King  Siegmund,  and  entreat  him  to  join  the 
party.  Tell  my  dear  sister  we  all  yearn  for  sight 
of  her." 

Dame  Brunhild  and  old  dame  Ute  added  their 
loving  messages  to  these  of  the  king,  and  then  the 
messengers  set  forth  upon  their  mission.  At  the 
end  of  twelve  days  they  reached  that  fortress  in  the 
Nibelungen  land  where  Siegfried  and  Kriemhild 
now  dwelt.  Word  was  brought  the  royal  pair  that 
a  party  of  knights  was  without,  wearing  the  Bur- 
gundian  costume.  Kriemhild  sent  one  of  her  maid- 
ens to  make  observations  from  the  casement,  but  her 
impatience  led  her  to  speedily  follow,  herself,  where- 
upon she  immediately  recognized  margrave  Gere. 

u  Verily,  yonder  in  the  court,"  she  joyfully  cried 
to  Siegfried,  "  is  our  brave  Gere.  My  brother  Gun- 
ther  must  have  sent  him  hither  from  the  Rhine." 

"  Bight  heartily  welcome  is  he,"  was  Siegfried's 
rejoinder. 


GUNTHER'S  INVITATION  TO  SIEGFRIED.  59 

Attendants  were  dispatched  without  further  de- 
lay to  admit  the  guests.  A  most  cordial  reception 
was  extended  to  these,  Kriemhild  herself  going  for- 
ward to  meet  them,  and  leading  in  margrave  Gere 
by  the  hand,  in  token  of  kindly  feeling.  Siegfried 
bade  the  weary  guests  be  seated,  but  Gere  asked 
permission  to  deliver,  first  of  all,  the  message  with 
which  he  was  charged. 

"  Ay,  truly,"  said  Siegfried ;  "  set  our  minds 
at  ease  without  delay.  Has  any  mischance  befallen 
my  beloved  wife's  kinsfolk  on  the  Rhine?  If  such 
be  the  case,  they  may  rely  upon  me  for  aid." 

"No,  heaven  be  praised,"  said  the  margrave, 
"all  is  well  with  them.  I  am  sent  by  my  liege 
lord  from  Worms,  most  noble  king,  to  invite  you, 
out  of  love  for  himself  and  dame  Brunhild,  my  royal 
mistress,  to  grant  them  a  visit  this  coming  summer 
solstice.  They  hold  then  a  gay  high-tide,  which 
they  long  to  have  honored  with  your  presence,  that 
of  your  queen,  your  royal  father,  and  such  of  your 
brave  knights  as  you  deem  proper  to  have  accom- 
pany you." 

"  That  were  not  easily  accomplished,"  was  Sieg- 
fried's reply. 

Then  Gere  expatiated  upon  how  greatly  their 
presence  was  desired,  how  urgent  worthy  dame  Ute 
was  that  they  should  come,  and  how  truly  Gemot 
and  Giselher  longed  to  see  them.  Kriemhild  ear- 
nestly besought  her  husband  to  accept  the  invitation, 
and  finally  Siegfried  promised  to  consult  with  his 
friends  upon  the  subject. 

The  messengers  were  treated  with  the  highest 
consideration,  but  at  the  expiration  of  nine  days 


60 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


they  began  to  feel  impatient  to  receive  their  answer, 
that  they  might  return  home.  Meanwhile  Siegfried 
had  been  advised  by  his  friends  to  accept  the  invi- 
tation, and  to  take  with  him  a  force  of  one  thou- 
sand Nibelungen  knights.  He  then  asked  his  father 
to  journey  with  him  to  Worms,  and  the  excellent 
old  man  consented,  agreeing  to  be  ready  within 
twelve  days  with  an  hundred  knights  of  the  Nether- 
lands. Siegfried  thereupon  sent  for  the  messengers, 
and  charged  them  to  tender  his  affectionate  saluta- 
tions to  their  sovereign  and  his  lady,  and  say  that 
the  invitation  should  be  right  joyfully  accepted. 
Making  them  many  costly  presents,  he  then  dis- 
missed them. 

"When  the  messengers  reached  Worms  with  the 
cheering  intelligence  that  Siegfried,  Kriemhild  and 
the  venerable  King  Siegmund  were  on  their  way 
thither  with  their  retinues,  there  was  great  rejoicing. 
Brunhild  had  many  questions  to  ask  regarding  every- 
thing that  had  been  seen,  and  seemed  particularly 
anxious  to  know  whether  Kriemhild  had  preserved 
her  beauty  in  its  full  height,  to  which  she  was 
answered  in  the  affirmative.  Dame  Ute  was  chiefly 
desirous  to  learn  of  her  daughter's  welfare,  and 
found  every  reason  to  be  content  with  the  tidings 
thereof. 

At  sight  of  the  magnificent  presents  from  the 
Nibelungen  land,  the  people  loudly  extolled  Sieg- 
fried's princely  generosity.  Hagen  alone  failed  to 
join  in  the  universal  cry  of  approbation. 

"Ay,  to  be  sure,"  quoth  he ;  "  Siegfried  can  well 
afford  to  scatter  abroad  his  treasures  with  lavish 
hand.    Is  not  he  master  of  the  Nibelungen  hoard? 


GUNTHER'S  INVITATION  TO  SIEGFRIED.  61 


Would  that  we  could  secure  unto  ourselves  this 
treasure  beyond  compare!" 

The  whole  court  of  Worms  was  now  in  a  bustle 
of  excitement.  Knight  vied  with  knight  in  prepar- 
ing to  worthily  do  honor  to  the  expected  guests. 
Nor  were  the  ladies  forgetful  of  their  part ;  they 
busied  themselves  in  embroidering  the  richest  de- 
vices, and  jewels  beyond  compare  glittered  upon 
many  a  sumptuous  garment  by  means  of  their  skill. 


THIRTEENTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  THE  INVITATION  WAS  ACCEPTED. 

IN  due  course  of  time,  Siegfried,  Kriemhild,  good 
King  Siegmund,  and  their  suite,  having  com- 
pleted their  extensive  preparations,  took  leave  of  the 
Nibelungen  land,  and  set  forth  upon  their  journey. 
Light  were  their  hearts  as  they  rode  onward,  one 
and  all  indulging  in  the  vain  delusion  that  much 
joy  would  be  derived  from  the  step  they  were  tak- 
ing. Alas,  they  knew  not  to  what  dire  misery  it 
would  lead !  The  venerable  King  Siegmund  would 
never  have  countenanced  the  visit  to  Worms  had 
he  foreseen  its  results. 

Siegfried  and  Kriemhild  were  compelled  to  leave 
their  little  son  at  home.  He  was  too  young  to  bring 
on  so  long  a  journey,  therefore  all  suitable  provisions 
were  made  for  his  safety  at  home  during  the  absence 
of  his  parents.  Neither  father  nor  mother  ever  be- 
held him  more. 

When  the  travelers  drew  near  Worms,  Siegfried 
sent  messengers  in  advance  to  announce  their  ap- 
proach. These  were  met  by  sundry  of  King  Gun- 
ther's  vassals,  who  hastened  to  apprize  their  lord 
that  his  honored  guests  were  nigh  at  hand.  The 
king  was  rejoiced,  and  seeking  his  royal  consort  he 
thus  addressed  her: 

"Do  you   remember,  Brunhild,  how  my  sister 

62 


HOW  THE  INVITATION  WAS  ACCEPTED.  63 


Kriemhild  received  you  when  you  came  into  this 
land?  It  is  my  wish  that  you  receive  our  trusty 
Siegfried's  wife  as  well." 

"Ay,  that  I  will,"  was  Brunhild's  hearty  re- 
joinder; for  notwithstanding  her  inordinate  curiosity, 
she  cherished  a  warm  regard  for  Kriemhild.  "  Most 
dear  to  my  heart  is  your  sister,  my  lord." 

The  Burgundian  knights  and  ladies  rode  forth 
beyond  the  city  gates  to  meet  the  coming  guests. 
Most  joyful  were  the  greetings  which  ensued,  and 
it  was  an  especially  touching  sight  to  behold  the 
lovely  manner  in  which  dame  Brunhild  received 
her  husband's  sister.  King  Siegmund  was  over- 
whelmed with  the  highest  honors,  and  King  Gun- 
ther  bade  him  heartily  welcome  to  his  land. 

"  God  bless  you  all ! "  spake  Siegmund,  that  ven- 
erable man.  "  Since  my  son  Siegfried  won  you  for 
friends,  my  heart  hath  yearned  to  see  you,  ye  war- 
riors brave." 

The  two  queens  rode  home  to  the  castle  side  by 
side,  and  it  truly  seemed  as  though  they  could  never 
weary  of  expressing  their  delight  at  once  more  being- 
together.  Also  the  intercourse  between  the  Bur- 
gundian knights  and  ladies  of  Kriemhild's  train  and 
their  old  friends  was  very  pleasant. 

At  the  castle,  brilliant  preparations  for  entertain- 
ment awaited  the  guests.  Festivity  followed  upon 
festivity,  services  of  thanksgiving  were  celebrated  in 
the  churches,  tournaments  were  held,  the  castle  walls 
resounded  with  gay  peals  of  music,  and  no  expense 
was  spared  to  produce  universal  enjoyment.  All 
was  peace  and  harmony  until  the  eleventh  day. 

Brunhild's  satisfaction  in  the  visit  of  her  friends 


64 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LA^D. 


was  soon  swallowed  up  in  wonderment  over  the 
state  in  which  they  appeared.  The  old  fixed  idea 
kept  constantly  recurring  to  her  mind. 

"  I  shall  bear  it  no  longer,"  thought  she,  at  last. 
"  Kriemhild  herself  must  tell  me  wherefore  her  hus- 
band demeans  himself  so  arrogantly,  and  wherefore 
he  never  pays  tribute  to  us,  as  is  our  due.  With 
all  his  grandeur,  he  is  only  one  of  our  vassals." 

Thus  she  worked  herself  up  until  she  attained  a 
frame  of  mind  which  gave  the  spirit  of  evil  entire 
power  over  her.  The  germ  which  had  long  lain 
dormant  within  her  breast  developed  to  maturity, 
thereby  carrying  misery  into  many  hearts. 


FOURTEENTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  THE  QUEENS  RATED  EACH  OTHER. 

0!N"E  evening,  just  before  the  vesper  hour,  the 
queens  sat  talking  together  at  an  upper  win- 
dow of  the  castle,  as  they  watched  the  games  of  skill 
taking  place  in  the  court.  Each  lady  was  secretly 
congratulating  herself  upon  the  superiority  of  her 
own  husband  over  all  other  knights,  however  noble. 

"  I  have  a  husband,"  cried  Kriemhild,  at  last, 
utterly  unable  to  longer  restrain  herself  from  giving 
vent  to  her  thoughts,  "  whom  yonder  knights,  one 
and  all,  might  feel  proud  to  call  liege." 

"  Pray  how  can  that  be,"  retorted  dame  Brun- 
hild, "  so  long  as  my  Gunther  lives?" 

"  Only  watch  him  as  he  stands  there,"  continued 
Kriemhild,  not  paying  the  slightest  heed  to  this  in- 
terruption. "  See  how  grandly  he  excels  all  other 
knights  in  beauty  and  in  strength.  He  walks  before 
all  other  men,  outshining  them  as  doth  the  moon 
the  stars." 

"However  handsome  and  noble  he  may  be," 
hotly  exclaimed  Brunhild,  "  Gunther,  your  noble 
brother,  takes  precedence  in  all  respects.  He  stands 
first  among  the  kings  of  the  earth." 

"  I  have  good  reason  for  what  I  say,"  cried 
Kriemhild,  significantly.  "  Believe  me,  Brunhild, 
my  husband  is,  to  say  the  least,  the  peer  of  yours." 

65 


66 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"  Try  me  not  too  far,  Kriemhild,"  was  the  in- 
dignant rejoinder.  "  My  words  also  are  well  found- 
ed, for  when  Gunther  so  valiantly  wooed  and  won 
me,  he  told  me  with  his  own  lips  that  Siegfried 
was  his  vassal.    Moreover,  Siegfried  said  so  himself." 

"  Why  in  the  world  would  my  royal  brothers 
have  bestowed  my  hand  in  marriage  upon  a  vassal?" 
laughed  Kriemhild.  "  But  come,  Brunhild,  let  us 
drop  this  foolish  theme." 

"  That  I  will  never  do,"  cried  Brunhild.  "  Why 
should  I  dispense  with  the  services  of  this  haughty 
vassal,  and  those  who  are  subject  to  him  ? " 

"  Dispense  with  them  you  must  forevermore," 
angrily  retorted  Kriemhild.  "  Do  you  not  know 
that  my  hero  is  a  mighty  king,  far  exceeding  my 
brother  Gunther  in  rank  and  riches?  No  tribute  is 
due  from  Siegfried  to  either  you  or  your  husband, 
and  it  astonishes  me,  Brunhild,  that  you  persist  in 
talking  so  absurdly." 

"  Beware  how  you  demean  yourself  so  haughtily," 
cried  Brunhild,  by  this  time  bubbling  over  with 
wrath.  "Henceforth  it  shall  be  clearly  determined 
which  of  us  two  be  first  in  rank." 

"Ay,  truly,  it  shall  be  determined,"  said  Kriem- 
hild, now  thoroughly  aroused.  "  Since  you  make  so 
bold  as  to  declare  my  husband  to  be  vassal  to 
yours,  it  shall  be  seen  this  day,  by  the  knights  of 
both  our  consorts,  that  I  dare  enter  the  minster  be- 
fore King  Gunther's  queen." 

"  Try  it,  if  so  be  that  you  will  persist  in  your 
arrogant  assumption.  When  the  hour  draws  near, 
we  will  approach  the  minster  with  our  ladies  from 
different  directions,  and  at  the  minster  door  this 
question  of  rank  shall  be  set  at  rest  forever." 


HOW  THE  QUEENS  BATED  EACH  OTHER.  67 


"It  shall  indeed,"  quoth  Kriemhild. 

By  the  time  they  parted,  both  ladies  had  reached 
the  highest  pitch  of  naming  anger.  Each  retired  to 
her  own  apartments  to  add  solid  fuel  to  the  flames. 
Kriemhild  had  herself  and  her  three-and-forty  maid- 
ens attired  in  finer  than  royal  apparel,  and  gave 
orders,  also,  that  her  husband's  knights  should  don 
their  most  royal  attire.  Brunhild,  on  her  part,  had 
spared  no  pains  to  have  her  retinue  present  an  im- 
posing appearance,  and  her  fury  knew  no  bounds  at 
finding  herself  wholly  outdone  in  splendor. 

The  bystanders  marveled  greatly  at  beholding 
the  queens,  who  had  hitherto  always  appeared  to- 
gether in  public,  thus  separately  approaching  the 
minster.  They  had  cause  for  still  greater  amaze- 
ment when  both  royal  trains  reached  the  sacred 
edifice.  At  the  door,  Kriemhild  made  a  movement 
to  enter  first,  and  Brunhild  gave  a  peremptory  order 
for  her  to  stop. 

"Hold!"  exclaimed  the  infuriated  woman.  "Be- 
fore king's  wife  vassal  shall  never  go." 

"  Had  you  held  your  peace,"  cried  fair  Kriemhild 
—  and  right  angry  was  her  mood — "it  were  better 
for  you.  Since  you  have  chosen  to  speak  in  public,  I 
shall  also  proclaim  aloud,  that  the  whole  world  may 
know  it,  something  that  may  do  you  good  to  hear." 

Then  Kriemhild  repeated  the  story  of  Brunhild's 
treatment  of  the  royal  Gunther  on  their  bridal 
night,  and  told  how  Siegfried  had  subsequently  in- 
terfered in  his  friend's  behalf.  When  Brunhild 
heard  this  true  version  of  a  story,  none  of  which 
she  especially  enjoyed  having  divulged  to  the  pub- 
lic, she  began  to  weep  with  rage,  and  Siegfried's 


68 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


wife  took  advantage  of  her  confusion  to  sweep 
proudly  into  the  church. 

Poor  Brunhild  made  no  effort  to  resist  this  fur- 
ther indignity.  She  stood  without  the  minster  doors 
during  the  entire  service,  and  full  sorely  did  she 
rue  the  day  which  gave  her  birth.  When  finally 
Kriemhild  reappeared,  Brunhild  arrested  her  prog- 
ress to  demand  proofs  of  her  startling  assertions. 
For  sole  reply,  Kriemhild  paraded  before  the  stricken 
woman  the  golden  ring  which  graced  her  lily-white 
hand,  and  the  girdle  of  Nineveh  silk,  well  garnished 
with  precious  stones,  encircling  her  slender  waist. 
Brunhild  recognized  them,  and  at  once  a  new  light 
broke  over  her  history.  Nevertheless  she  assumed 
a  bold  front,  furiously  accused  Kriemhild  of  having 
stolen  her  property,  and  angrily  threatened  to  com- 
plain to  her  husband  of  how  she  had  been  wronged 
and  insulted.  Without  deigning  any  reply,  Kriem- 
hild went  her  way. 

The  work  of  evil  which  was  to  cause  so  much 
misery  was  now  well  under  way.  King  Gunther 
wras  summoned  to  the  spot,  and  when  he  found  his 
wife  in  tears  he  became  very  solicitous  to  know 
their  cause.  The  weeping  woman  gave  her  own 
version  of  what  had  transpired,  and  expressed  her 
conviction  that  Siegfried  had  incited  his  wife  to  this 
outrageous  conduct. 

uLet  us  call  Siegfried  hither,"  cried  Gunther, 
"and  we  shall  soon  know  how  blameworthy  he  is." 

So  Siegfried  was  sent  for,  and  when  he  came  he 
wras  astonished  at  the  scene  awaiting  him.  He  in- 
quired into  the  cause  of  so  much  weeping  and 
lamentation,  and  upon  learning  what  had  occurred, 


HOW  THE  QUEENS  RATED  EACH  OTHER.  69 


he  expressed  his  grief  at  the  part  his  Kriemhild  had 
acted,  solemnly  declaring  that  he  was  in  nowise  re- 
sponsible for  it. 

"  Women  should  learn  to  bridle  their  tongues," 
quoth  he.  "  Command  your  wife  to  desist  hence- 
forth from  idle  tattling,  friend  Gunther,  and  I  shall 
do  the  same  by  mine.  Such  overweening  folly  puts 
me  to  shame,  and  Kriemhild  shall  have  cause  to 
rue  it." 

This  assurance  thoroughly  satisfied  Gunther,  but 
not  so  with  Brunhild.  Far  from  being  appeased,  she 
was  more  indignant  than  ever  that  no  apology  had 
been  offered  her,  no  explanation  attempted  of  how 
her  ring  and  girdle  came  to  be  in  Kriemhild's  posses- 
sion. Sadder  day  she  never  saw,  and  she  fell  to  sob- 
bing aud  moaning  with  more  vehemence  than  ever. 
Her  heart  was  wounded  beyond  healing,  and  the  old 
well-springs  of  ill-feeling  toward  the  hero  of  the 
Netherlands  united  into  a  fell  flood  of  hatred. 

It  was  thus  that  she  was  found  by  Hagen  of 
Tronje,  himself  all  too  ready  to  seize  upon  cause  for 
vengeance.  Upon  hearing  her  story,  he  solemnly 
vowed  that  he  would  never  rest  so  long  as  Siegfried 
beheld  the  sun's  light.  Ortwin,  Gemot  and  Giselher 
came  up  while  they  were  talking  and  joined  them. 
Ortwin  united  with  Hagen  in  counseling  revenge 
upon  Siegfried,  but  Giselher  exclaimed: 

"  Alas,  my  friends,  you  know  not  what  you  say ! 
Siegfried  has  ever  shown  us  unwavering  affection ; 
surely  he  has  in  nowise  merited  such  hatred." 

"  We  were  base  cowards,"  cried  Hagen,  "  did  we 
longer  suffer  his  arrogance  to  go  unpunished.  We 
must  deliver  ourselves  from  this  Siegfried's  power." 


70 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Gunther  was  sorely  grieved  at  this  new  turn  of 
affairs,  and  strove  to  appease  the  wrath  of  his  friends. 
He  reminded  them  of  how  lavish  Siegfried  had  been 
of  his  friendly  services,  and  how  much  cause  they  all 
had  to  be  grateful  to  him. 

"Besides,"  he  concluded,  "you  seem  all  to  have 
forgotten  how  impossible  it  were  to  vanquish  so  in- 
vincible a  hero." 

"Leave  that  to  me,"  vauntingly  cried  Hagen.  "If 
strength  fail  me,  I  will  overcome  him  by  strategy." 

He  then  proposed  ordering  certain  vassals  to  ap- 
pear at  court  in  the  guise  of  foreign  messengers 
come  to  proclaim  tidings  of  war.  When  Siegfried 
was  informed  that  his  friends  were  about  marching 
out  to  meet  an  invading  force,  he  would  immediately 
proffer  his  services,  and  when  once  he  was  thus  lured 
away  from  court,  means  could  readily  be  devised  to 
dispose  of  him. 

At  first  the  king  resisted  this  plan ;  but  every  day 
Ilagen  whispered  into  his  ear  the  dangers  to  which 
he  might  be  subjected  while  so  powerful  a  rival  mon- 
arch as  Siegfried  lived,  until  finally  his  weak  nature 
yielded.  Then  began  preparations  for  one  of  the 
darkest  deeds  of  vengeance  ever  wrought  by  envy 
and  ingratitude. 


FIFTEENTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  BETRAYED. 

ON  the  fourth  morning  after  the  events  just  re- 
corded, thirty-two  horsemen  came  dashing  up  to 
the  king's  palace  at  Worms,  and  demanded  audience 
with  King  Gunther.  These  were  none  other  than 
Ilagen's  feigned  messengers.  They  represented  them- 
selves as  having  been  sent  thither  by  Leudeger,  king 
of  the  Saxons,  and  Leudegast,  king  of  the  Danes, 
whom  once  Siegfried  had  vanquished,  to  announce 
that  these  potentates  were  advancing  with  their  ar- 
mies to  seek  vengeance  for  their  former  defeat.  These 
tidings  spread  rapidly,  causing  great  consternation, 
especially  among  the  women  of  the  land. 

Advised  by  Hagen,  Gunther  made  a  great  show 
of  astonished  indignation,  and  immediately  called  his 
confidential  vassals  around  him,  under  pretense  of 
holding  counsel  with  them  regarding  the  proper  course 
of  action.  This  step  nearly  frustrated  the  scheme,  for 
the  majority  of  the  knights  denounced  the  base  strat- 
egy. In  his  heart  of  hearts  Gunther  desired  to  heed 
their  warning  voices,  but  Hagen  gave  him  no  peace 
until  he  was  wholly  ensnared  in  the  meshes  of  the 
foul  plot. 

Siegfried  soon  observed  the  excitement  going  on 
at  court,  and  was  informed  of  the  arrival  of  the  mes- 
sengers.   How  could  he  dream  of  treachery  beneath 

71 


72 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


this  ?  After  his  usually  generous  fashion,  he  sought 
out  Gunther  and  proffered  his  services. 

"  Siegfried's  hand  shall  teach  these  bold  intruders 
a  lesson,"  quoth  he.  "  Remain  you  here  to  guard 
your  dominion  with  your  own  knights.  At  the  head 
of  my  forces  I  will  devastate  the  lands  of  these  daring 
monarchs,  and  will  humble  them  as  I  would  see  all 
your  enemies  humbled.  You  know  how  rejoiced  I 
always  am  to  serve  you,  good  friend." 

Summoning  all  the  hypocrisy  at  his  command, 
Gunther  thanked  Siegfried  for  his  kindness,  and  pro- 
fessed his  readiness  to  accept  so  advantageous  an  offer. 
Siegfried  then  hastened  to  make  ready  for  the  expedi- 
tion. The  noble  hero  of  the  Netherlands  commended 
his  wife  to  good  King  Siegmund's  care,  and  bade 
them  both  be  of  good  cheer  until  his  victorious  return. 
A  large,  well  equipped  force  was  assembled,  many  of 
the  Burgundian  knights,  Hagen  among  their  num- 
ber, having  united  with  the  Nibelungen  heroes,  and 
none  but  a  few  confidential  vassals  had  been  let  into 
the  secret  of  the  movement.  The  day  before  that 
appointed  for  departure,  Hagen  went  to  take  leave  of 
dame  Kriemhild. 

"  How  proud  I  am,"  said  that  lady,  in  the  course 
of  conversation,  "  that  I  have  a  husband  who  is  able 
to  lend  such  ready  aid  to  my  brothers.  Dear  friend 
Hagen,"  she  added,  abruptly,  "I  hope  you  will  al- 
ways remember  how  dearly  I  love  my  kinsfolk,  and 
for  this  requite  my  beloved  lord.  Let  not  him  pay 
the  forfeit  if  I  did  Brunhild  wrong.  Bitterly  have  I 
rued  it,  for  my  Siegfried  was  sorely  displeased  with 
me  and  punished  me  severely." 

"  Kriemhild,  dear  lady,"  rejoined  the  wily  knight, 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  BETRAYED. 


7:| 


"you  will  soon  be  friends  again  with  Brunhild,  my 
sovereign  lady,  and  your  lord  convinced  us  at  the 
time  that  he  was  in  nowise  to  blame.  No  one 
values  Siegfried  more  highly  than  1,  and  if  you  will 
tell  me  how  I  can  serve  him,  I  will  gladly  heed 
your  words." 

"Ah,  I  should  have  no  cause  of  fear  were  my 
dear  lord  less  daring  and  thoughtless  of  self!"  cried 
Siegfried's  queen. 

"  If  you  have  any  especial  cause  for  anxiety,  gra- 
cious lady,"  said  Hagen,  "  confide  it  to  me,  and  I 
will  risk  my  life  to  guard  Siegfried  from  danger." 

Thus  tempted,  Kriemhild  revealed  a  secret  that 
she  should  never  have  given  out  of  her  own  keeping. 

"  Yes,  my  friend,"  said  she,  "  I  have  serious  cause 
for  anxiety.  I  fear  not  to  confide  to  you  my  secret, 
for  you  are  near  of  kin,  and  are  unquestionably  a 
friend  to  my  lord  and  me.  You  have  heard  how  my 
Siegfried  slew  a  dragon  and  bathed  in  its  blood,  but 
you  do  not  know  all.  While  he  was  bathing,  a  broad 
linden  leaf  lodged  between  his  shoulders,  and  I  know 
no  peace  when  he  is  in  the  storm  of  battle,  lest  some 
enemy's  shaft  reach  the  spot  where  it  clung,  for  there 
he  can  be  wounded  as  well  as  any  other  mortal.  I 
tell  you  this  that  you  may  shield  him  from  harm." 

"  Secure  some  token  on  his  coat,"  eagerly  cried 
Hagen,  who  saw  within  his  grasp  the  information 
he  coveted,  "that  I  may  know  this  spot  and  shield 
him." 

So  Kriemhild  promised  to  embroider  a  silken 
cross  upon  Siegfried's  coat  directly  over  the  spot 
where  the  linden  leaf  had  lodged,  and  Hagen  joy- 
fully took  his  leave.    He  forthwith  sought  the  king, 


74 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


and  told  him  that  he  had  gained  most  valuable  in- 
formation which  would  place  Siegfried  wholly  within 
his  power.  Such  being  the  case,  he  said,  it  would 
be  best  to  transform  the  campaign  into  a  hunting 
expedition.  Gunther,  having  become  a  mere  tool 
in  his  powerful  vassal's  hands,  consented  to  whatever 
alterations  were  deemed  advisable  in  the  treacherous 
plot. 

The  next  morning,  just  as  the  forces  were  ready 
to  set  forth,  two  more  feigned  messengers  appeared, 
purporting  to  have  been  sent  in  haste  by  King 
Leudeger  and  King  Leudegast  to  announce  that  it 
had  been  decided  not  to  break  the  peace.  Hagen 
rode  up  close  beside  Siegfried,  noting  with  intense 
satisfaction  the  position  of  the  silken  cross,  and  im- 
parted to  him  the  tidings.  Siegfried  was  far  from 
pleased,  being  in  his  most  warlike  mood,  and  he 
could  scarcely  be  restrained  from  setting  forth  at  all 
hazards. 

"  Heaven  reward  you,  friend  Siegfried,"  said  King 
Gunther,  "for  your  ever-ready  service.  I  shall  re- 
quite you  as  it  behooves  me  to  do.  Suppose  now, 
since  this  campaign  is  at  an  end,  that  we  ride  out 
to  hunt  the  bears  and  wild  boars  in  the  Odenwald  ? " 

"  If  you  go  on  the  chase,  I  shall  be  glad  to  go 
too,"  was  Siegfried's  good-natured  reply.  "Provide 
me  but  with  some  well-trained  dogs  and  a  guide,  and 
I  will  ride  with  you  to  the  forest." 

"  Do  you  only  want  one  ? "  asked  Gunther,  with 
much  show  of  warmth  —  he  had  been  instructed  by 
Hagen  upon  his  course ;  "  I  can  readily  provide  you 
with  four  guides,  trusty  huntsmen  all,  who  well  know 
the  lurking-places  of  our  royal  hunting-grounds." 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  BETRAYED. 


75 


After  dispersing  his  faithful  troops,  Siegfried  went 
to  apprise  his  wife  of  the  change  of  programme,  and 
to  make  the  needful  preparations.  Meanwhile  Hagen 
had  divulged  to  the  king  his  now  fully-matured 
course  of  action.  Gemot  and  Giselher  refused  to 
join  in  the  chase.  Neither  one,  however,  had  suffi- 
cient resolution  to  warn  their  faithful  friend  of  his 
danger,  which  they  ever  after  bitterly  repented. 


SIXTEENTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  SLAIN. 

KKIEMHILD  had  already  deeply  regretted  the 
disclosure  she  had  made  to  Hagen.  Ever 
since  her  husband  had  left  her  in  the  morning  she 
had  been  tormented  with  gloomy  apprehensions,  and 
she  speedily  seized  the  opportunity  of  his  return  to 
entreat  him  to  remain  at  home.  Even  the  change 
of  his  plans  did  not  relieve  her  anxiety,  yet  she  dared 
not  tell  him  its  cause. 

"  Give  up  the  chase  this  time,"  said  she,  "  and 
stay  with  me.  Last  night  1  dreamed  that  you  were 
pursued  by  two  wild  boars  upon  the  heath ;  the  flow- 
ers were  red  with  your  gore,  and  full  sorely  did  I 
weep.  Surely  these  boars  signify  enemies  who  will 
assail  you." 

"  Dearest  love,"  replied  Siegfried,  kissing  his 
wife's  rosy  lips,  "  I  have  no  enemies  here.  Your 
friends  all  love  me.  Wherefore  should  it  be  other- 
wise?   I  have  never  harmed  them." 

"  Ah,  my  well-beloved  Siegfried,"  persisted  Kriem- 
hild,  "I  am  sorrowful  with  dread  of  coming  ill.  In 
my  dream  meth ought  that  two  mountains  fell  and 
crushed  you,  and  I  never  beheld  you  more.  Oh, 
heed  this  warning,  I  intreat  you ! " 

"  Have  done  with  your  foolish  forebodings,  pre- 
cious wife.    Soon  I  shall  return  to  laugh  away  your 

76 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  SLAIN. 


77 


dread,"  cried  Siegfried,  as  he  folded  his  beloved  Kriem- 
hild  in  his  arms  and  tenderly  kissed  her  farewell.  Lit- 
tle thought  he  that  this  was  their  final  parting. 

As  the  hunting  party  drew  near  the  Odenwald, 
Siegfried  inquired  who  proposed  leading  the  chase. 
Hagen,  in  reply,  suggested  that  each  knight  should 
make  separate  search  for  game,  as  a  trial  of  skill. 
This  was  readily  agreed  upon,  the  comrades  parted, 
and  each  chose  his  own  route. 

Taking  with  him  an  old  huntsman  and  a  trusty 
hound,  Siegfried  plunged  into  the  thickest  of  the 
forest,  and  the  amount  of  game  captured  by  him  was 
wonderful.  Indeed,  every  wild  creature  that  fiis  eye 
rested  upon  fell  victim  to  his  skill.  The  first  beast 
that  he  encountered  was  a  fierce  wild  boar.  With  a 
mighty  death-stroke  he  felled  it  to  the  ground.  Then 
he  descried  a  grim  lion,  and  taking  sure  aim  he  sent 
an  arrow  quivering  through  its  heart.  Next,  he  killed 
a  buffalo,  four  bisons,  an  elk,  together  with  stags  and 
deers  in  abundance. 

Finally,  the  hound  roused  from  its  lair  a  wild  boar 
of  immense  size  and  ferocity.  The  bold  huntsman's 
arrow  merely  wrounded  this  savage  creature,  and  it 
turned  in  fury  upon  its  opponent.  Siegfried  sprang 
from  his  horse,  drew  his  sword  from  its  sheath  and 
ran  the  animal  through  the  body.  Another  hunts- 
man would  scarcely  have  come  off  victorious  in  such 
a  perilous  attack.  When  the  wild  boar  was  dis- 
patched, the  guide  asked  whether  it  would  not  be 
prudent  to  pause  awhile  in  the  chase,  since  otherwise 
the  forest  would  be  utterly  despoiled  of  game.  Our 
hero  laughed  heartily  at  this,  and  promptly  tied  up 
his  hound. 


7s 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


At  this  moment  there  arose  a  great  tumult,  which 
was  reechoed  through  mountain  and  forest  ravine. 
Four-and-twenty  dogs  had  been  let  loose  by  the 
huntsmen,  and  so  much  game  was  being  captured 
that  Hagen  and  his  friends  began  to  triumph  in  the 
thought  that  the  palm  of  victory  would  be  theirs. 
Not  so  did  they  feel  when  Siegfried  appeared  among 
them,  and  they  learned  that  their  combined  efforts 
had  not  sufficed  to  accumulate  as  much  game  as  had 
been  slain  by  him  alone. 

The  sound  of  a  horn  in  the  distance,  the  signal 
agreed  upon  to  call  together  the  huntsmen  to  par- 
take of  the  noonday  meal,  had  summoned  the  hero 
of  the  Netherlands  to  the  appointed  place  of  meet- 
ing. On  his  way  thither,  it  must  be  recorded,  an 
enormous  bear  had  chanced  to  cross  his  path. 

"Yon  bear  goes  with  me  to  our  trysting-place," 
said  Siegfried.  "  My  comrades  shall  have  some  sport 
with  him." 

With  these  words,  he  let  loose  his  hound,  who 
dashed  swiftly  forward  to  attack  the  bear.  The  poor 
beast  turned  and  fled,  but  Siegfried  and  the  hound 
pursued  him  until  he  was  brought  to  bay  in  an  abrupt 
cleft  in  the  mountain  side,  from  whence  escape  was 
impossible.  Springing  from  his  horse,  the  knight 
seized  the  angry  creature,  bound  him  so  firmly  that 
he  was  unable  to  offer  resistance,  then  remounting, 
secured  the  rope  to  the  horse's  saddle. 

A  truly  magnificent  sight  did  our  hero  present 
as  he  rode  through  the  forest,  dragging  after  him  the 
captive  bear,  while  the  dog  bounded  along  by  his 
master's  side.  The  noble  knight  wore  a  suit  of  finest 
otter  skin  and  black  silk,  decorated  with  many-hued 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  SLAIN". 


79 


embroideries  and  rich  gold-lace  trimmings;  his  cap 
was  of  sable ;  over  one  shoulder  hung  his  panther- 
skin  quiver,  and  he  carried  a  bow  of  monstrous 
size,  which  Siegfried  alone  among  men  could  bend 
with  his  unaided  strength.  Glittering  armor  hung 
about  the  knightly  person ;  a  golden  hunting  horn 
was  suspended  at  his  side,  and  in  one  hand  was  a 
spear  of  huge  proportions.  The  mighty  sword  Bal- 
mung  —  that  weapon  whose  sharp  edge  could  pene- 
trate the  stoutest  armor  —  proudly  held  its  place 
amid  all  other  accoutrements. 

Gunther's  people  saw  brave  Siegfried  approach 
the  rendezvous,  and  they  hastened  forward  to  take 
his  horse.  So  soon  as  the  knight  had  dismounted, 
he  dexterously  unloosed  the  cords  binding  muzzle 
and  feet,  and  set  his  bear  at  liberty.  At  sight  of 
this  unexpected  prize,  King  Gunther's  hounds  set 
up  a  howl  and  impatiently  shook  the  chains  which 
bound  them  ;  the  huntsmen  shouted  with  delight, 
and  the  king  ordered  the  hounds  unloosed.  Terri- 
fied by  the  universal  confusion  his  sudden  appearance 
had  occasioned,  the  poor  bear  sped  hither  and  thither 
in  search  of  a  loop-hole  of  escape,  and  finally  cleared 
the  camp-fire,  upsetting  pots  and  cauldrons  to  feed 
the  flames  with  the  food  being  prepared  therein ; 
indeed,  sundry  cooks  were  left  sprawling  upon  the 
ground. 

Sad  a  loss  as  would  be  such  a  piece  of  game,  the 
huntsmen  dared  not  shoot  lest  they  should  endanger 
the  safety  of  the  hounds.  Siegfried  outstripped  these 
trained  animals  in  the  pursuit,  overtook  the  bear, 
and  with  his  mighty  sword  gave  him  the  death-blow. 
All  his  comrades  marveled  anew  at  his  strength  and 


80 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


skill  when  they  rode  up  and  became  aware  of  what 
he  had  done.  One  and  all  felt  with  awe  that  he 
was  indeed  a  powerful  man. 

Once  more  they  assembled  about  the  table,  where, 
notwithstanding  the  recent  disaster,  a  bountiful  re- 
past had  been  spread.  Siegfried's  exertions  had 
sharpened  his  appetite,  and  he  made  a  hearty  meal. 
Presently,  however,  it  occurred  to  him  that  the  cup- 
bearers were  dilatory  in  presenting  the  wine.  He 
felt  thirsty  and  could  not  refrain  from  expressing 
his  surprise  at  this  negligence,  sportively  adding  that 
if  it  were  huntsman's  fashion  to  go  dry,  he  was  thank- 
ful that  the  chase  was  not  his  calling. 

"When  we  reach  home,"  said  Gunther  —  and  false 
was  his  mood  — "  this  shall  be  amply  atoned  for.  We 
may  thank  Hagen  for  having  no  wine  here;  the  fault 
is  his." 

"  Dear  friends,"  said  the  knight  of  Tronje,  "  and 
you,  my  masters,  I  thought  we  were  bound  for  Spes- 
sart ;  the  hampers  of  wine  were  sent  there.  To-day 
there  is  no  wine.    This  shall  never  happen  again." 

"Poor  thanks  can  I  offer  you,  Sir  Hagen,"  cried 
the  noble  Siegfried.  "  Seven  beasts  of  burden  could 
hardly  have  carried  mead  and  wine  enough  to  have 
slaked  our  thirst.  If  we  could  not  have  this,  we 
should  have  camped  nearer  the  Rhine." 

"  I  know  a  spring  of  cool,  clear  water,  not  far  dis- 
tant, beneath  a  linden  tree.  Bear  me  no  ill  will,  ye 
swift  knights,  and  I  will  show  it  to  you,"  said  Hagen. 

Siegfried  restrained  his  thirst  until  all  had  con- 
cluded their  repast,  and  then  asked  that  they  might 
be  directed  to  this  spring.  As  Hagen  arose  to  show 
the  way,  he  turned  to  Siegfried,  carelessly  saying : 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  SLAIN". 


81 


"I  have  heard  it  said  that  no  one  can  outstrip 
Kriemhild's  lord  in  the  race,  so  fleet  is  he  of  foot. 
Is  this  true?" 

"What  if  we  try  it?"  gaily  cried  Siegfried,  far 
from  suspecting  the  demoniacal  wiles  at  the  bottom 
of  all  this.  "Let  us  run  a  race  to  the  spring,  Sir 
Gunther,  you  and  myself." 

"  With  all  my  heart !  "  exclaimed  Hagen. 

"  If  I  fail  to  win,"  said  Siegfried,  "  I  will  lay  me 
down  in  the  grass  at  the  victor's  feet.  Moreover, 
I  shall  bear  with  me  spear  and  shield,  helmet  and 
armor,  together  with  all  the  trappings  of  the  chase ; 
you  may  divest  you  of  what  you  will." 

Thus  directed,  Hagen  and  Gunther  hastened  to 
remove  their  heavy  garments  and  lay  aside  all  cum- 
bersome weight,  while  Siegfried  even  replaced  his 
bow  and  quiver  of  arrows,  and  took  up  his  ponder- 
ous spear  and  shield.  Nevertheless,  albeit  like  two 
wild  panthers  the  others  sped  over  the  clover,  he  far 
outstripped  them  in  the  race.  Immediately  upon 
reaching  the  spring  the  brave  hero  laid  down  his 
weapons  upon  the  ground  and  leaned  his  shield 
against  the  trunk  of  the  linden  tree.  Beside  the 
sparkling  water  stood  the  glorious  guest,  but  his 
courteous  nature  forbade  his  drinking  until  the  royal 
host  had  quenched  his  thirst. 

The  water  was  clear,  cool  and  refreshing,  and  bow- 
ing over  it  his  form,  Gunther  drank  deeply.  When 
he  arose,  Siegfried  stooped  to  do  likewise,  and  while 
thus  engaged  the  noble  knight  was  strangely  requited 
for  all  the  goodness  he  had  lavished  upon  his  un- 
worthy friends.  With  stealthy  tread,  Hagen  stole 
up  behind  him,  removed  bow  and  sword  from  his 


82 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


reach,  and  then,  seizing  the  hero's  ponderous  spear, 
he  took  unerring  aim  at  the  cross  Kriemhild  had 
wrought  upon  her  husband's  garment.  Thus,  while 
Siegfried  drank  from  the  purling  waters  of  the  stream, 
he  was  pierced  with  his  own  dread  weapon,  and  his 
heart's  blood  gushed  over  his  fell  destroyer. 

Hagen,  who  never  before  had  shunned  mortal 
man,  now  turned  and  fled,  and  well  was  it  for  him 
that  he  had  removed  his  victim's  weapons.  With 
truly  supernatural  strength  the  hero  had  sprung  to 
his  feet,  and  had  he  found  either  bow  or  sword,  not- 
withstanding his  mortal  wound  and  the  deadly  weapon 
projecting  from  his  body,  Hagen  would  forthwith 
have  forfeited  his  life.  As  it  was,  the  dying  hero 
seized  his  shield,  and  springing  after  the  flying  assas- 
sin, overtook  him,  felled  him  to  the  ground,  and  beat 
him  until  the  shield  was  broken  in  several  places, 
the  ground  strewed  around  with  the  precious  stones 
with  which  it  was  studded.  The  forest  resounded 
with  the  blows,  and  Hagen  would  surely  have  been 
killed  had  not  his  chastiser's  strength  at  last  given 
way.  The  hero  could  no  longer  stand  erect,  all  color 
had  forsaken  his  face,  and,  with  a  groan  of  anguish, 
he  sank  down  upon  the  greensward  among  the  flow- 
ers. At  this  moment,  G-unther,  together  with  several 
of  his  knights,  came  up,  and,  with  painful  effort, 
Siegfried  thus  accosted  them : 

"  Woe  to  you,  ye  dastards !  Of  what  avail  have 
been  my  services  to  you,  since  thus  ye  betray  me? 
I  have  proved  myself  to  be  your  friend,  and  ye  have 
illy  requited  my  friendship.  The  mark  of  treachery 
Will  henceforth  be  set  upon  your  brows,  and  genera- 
tions yet  unborn  will  be  pointed  at  because  of  it." 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  SLAIN. 


83 


One  after  another  those  who  had  participated  in 
the  chase  hastened  to  the  spot,  and  for  many  it  was 
indeed  a  joyless  day.  Stung  with  remorse  and  hor- 
ror at  the  dying  hero's  words,  the  king  of  the  Bur- 
gundians  began  loudly  to  bewail  the  deed  that  would 
rob  him  of  his  friend,  at  which  Siegfried  exclaimed: 

"What  availeth  it  to  deplore  a  deed  you  must 
yourself  have  sanctioned  ?  Far  better  would  it  have 
been  had  you  forbidden  it." 

"  There  is,  indeed,  no  cause  for  wailing  or  woe," 
interposed  grim  Hagen.  "  Our  fears  are  now  for- 
ever stilled.  Henceforth  no  mortal  exceedeth  us  in 
strength,  and  I  glory  to  think  that  my  hand  dealt 
this  death-blow." 

"  Small  reason  have  you  to  glory  in  your  foul 
treachery,"  spake  he  of  the  Netherlands.  "Had  I 
weened  that  your  seeming  friendship  cloaked  such 
murderous  hate,  you  had  never  thus  slain  me.  It 
grieves  me  to  know  that  my  son's  kinsfolk  could 
stoop  so  low ;  yet  my  death  I  regret  for  my  Kriem- 
hilcl's  sake  alone." 

Then  with  touching  simplicity  the  dying  hero 
turned  to  Gunther,  that  false  friend,  and  commended 
to  his  protection  the  darling  wife  whom  he  should 
never  more  behold  upon  earth. 

"If  any  spark  of  virtue  yet  remains  within  your 
breast,  O  king,"  cried  he,  "let  it  profit  Kriemhild, 
my  beloved  wife,  that  she  is  your  sister,  and  let  her 
not  feel  the  envious  hatred  you  have  borne  me. 
For  me,  my  father  and  my  men  shall  long  wait." 

Gunther  made  no  reply,  and  writhing  in  his  an- 
guish, Siegfried  sobbed  forth : 

"My  bloody  death  you  will  rue  in  the  days  to 


84 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


come.  Believe  me,  you  have  struck  your  own  death- 
blow." 

The  flowers  all  around  were  deluged  with  his 
blood.  Then  he  struggled  with  death ;  not  long  did 
he  this,  the  murderous  shaft  cut  him  too  keenly ; 
soon  he  could  speak  no  more,  this  bold  and  noble 
hero.  When  the  surrounding  knights  saw  that  he 
had  breathed  his  last,  they  laid  him  on  a  gold-red 
shield,  and  took  counsel  together  regarding  how  the 
truth  should  be  concealed.  It  was  suggested  by 
several  that  it  would  be  well  to  report  at  home  that 
Siegfried,  while  traversing  the  forest  alone,  had  been 
attacked  by  robbers,  and  slain  before  his  friends 
could  come  to  his  rescue.  The  discussion  was  cut 
short  by  Hagen. 

"  Leave  the  dead  to  my  care,"  interposed  he. 
"What  care  I  who  knows  that  this  be  my  deed? 
As  for  her,  who  could  so  wound  our  high-born 
queen,  little  shall  I  trouble  myself  about  her  tears." 


SEVENTEENTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  SIEGFRIED  WAS  BEWAILED  AND  BURIED. 

THE  joys  of  the  chase  were  over  and  forgotten. 
Silently  and  by  night  the  Burgundians  crossed 
the  Rhine  and  entered  Worms.  Hagen  had  the 
corpse  placed  before  Kriemhild's  door,  where  it  might 
meet  her  gaze  when  she  started  for  early  mass  the 
next  morning.  Thus  did  the  guilty  knight  complete 
his  hideous  work  of  vengeance. 

Early  the  next  morning  the  bells  sounded  for  mass. 
Kriemhild  hastened  to  arouse  her  maidens,  as  was  her 
wont,  that  they  might  prepare  to  attend  service  at  the 
minster.  One  of  the  chamberlains,  approaching  his 
lady's  door  with  a  light,  saw  the  murdered  man  lying 
there  in  his  gore.  He  did  not  recognize  his  master, 
and  hastened  to  make  known  to  his  lady  that  the 
bloody  corpse  of  a  stranger  knight  was  lying  without 
her  door.  Kriemhild  was  terrified,  for  she  thought 
of  what  she  had  told  Hagen. 

"Ah,  woe  is  me!"  she  shrieked,  with  a  fearful 
presentiment  of  the  misfortune  that  had  befallen  her, 
and  swooned  away. 

When  she  regained  consciousness,  her  attendants 
strove  to  persuade  her  that  this  knight  would  prove 
to  be  an  utter  stranger,  but  she  refused  consolation. 

"It  is  Siegfried,  my  beloved  husband,"  she  moaned. 
"  I  know  it  is  he.  Brunhild  has  devised  this,  and 
Hagen's  hand  has  wrought  the  deed." 

85 


86 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Then  she  fled  wildly  to  the  door  where  lay  the 
knight,  raised  his  beautiful  head  with  her  own  white 
hands,  and,  all  gory  though  he  was,  ^he  recognized  at 
once  the  hero  of  the  Netherlands.  Her  grief  knew 
no  bounds,  and  a  delicate  stream  of  blood  trickled 
down  from  her  lips  as  she  sobbed,  and  shrieked,  and 
groaned  aloud  in  her  anguish.  Her  people  all  wept 
with  her ;  one  and  all  felt  that  they  had  lost  a  friend, 
and  united  with  her  in  vowing  to  avenge  the  brave 
knight's  death.  The  sorrow-laden  widow  at  last 
bethought  her  to  dispatch  a  messenger  to  bear  the 
mournful  tidings  to  Siegmund,  and  bid  him  come  to 
her.  Knocking  at  the  old  man's  door,  the  messenger 
cried : 

"  King  Siegmund,  awake !  A  woeful  affliction  hath 
befallen  Kriemhild,  my  mistress,  and  she  bids  me 
summon  you,  whom  it  also  concerns,  to  join  in  her 
wailing  and  lamentation." 

"  Why  should  we  two,  fair  Kriemhild  and  I,  have 
cause  for  wailing  and  lamentation?"  inquired  Sieg- 
mund, starting  up  from  his  slumbers  in  alarm. 

When  the  messenger,  in  response  to  this,  an- 
nounced that  Siegfried  had  been  found,  murdered, 
before  KriemhilcFs  door,  the  old  man  refused  to 
believe  in  the  possibility  of  such  a  misfortune.  He 
arose,  however,  aroused  an  hundred  of  his  knights, 
and  hastened  with  them  to  the  spot  indicated.  When 
his  own  eyes  bore  witness  to  the  truth  of  what  he 
had  heard,  he  lifted  up  his  voice  and  wept. 

"  Ah,  woe  is  me,  that  ever  I  consented  to  journey 
into  this  land ! "  spake  the  aged  man,  so  soon  as  he 
could  command  speech.  "Kriemhild,  my  daughter, 
who  can  have  robbed  you  of  your  husband,  me  of  my 
child,  since  we  are  among  good  friends?" 


SIEGFRIED  BEWAILED  AND  BURIED. 


87 


"Did  I  but  know,"  sobbed  Kriemhild,  "the 
friends  of  my  Siegfried's  murderer  would  soon  have 
cause  for  wailing." 

Old  King  Siegmund  cast  himself  with  a  groan 
upon  the  corpse,  Kriemhild  refused  to  be  comforted, 
and  the  whole  palace  resounded  with  the  groans  of 
the  mourners.  Attendants  finally  came,  carried  thence 
the  warrior's  lovely  form,  washed  and  prepared  it  in 
princely  state  for  burial,  and  placed  it  upon  the  bier. 
The  Nibelungen  heroes,  gathering  around  their  mas- 
ter's body,  swore  vengeance,  and  declared  that  they 
would  never  rest  until  Siegfried's  slayer  was  found. 

"  Whosoever  he  may  be,"  cried  they,  at  once  con- 
jecturing that  the  assassin  was  among  those  who  had 
ridden  forth  with  Siegfried  to  the  chase,  "  he  must  be 
within  these  castle  walls;"  and  donning  their  armor 
they  prepared,  eleven  hundred  doughty  knights,  from 
Netherlands  and  from  the  Nibelungen  land,  with 
King  Siegmund  at  their  head,  to  storm  the  castle,  or 
otherwise  avenge,  at  any  risk,  their  dear  lord's  un- 
timely end. 

Kriemhild  was  aroused  from  her  despair  to  a  sense 
of  the  danger  that  these  faithful  vassals  and  her 
beloved  husband's  honored  father  must  encounter  in 
the  unequal  strife  they  were  about  entering  upon,  for 
the  Burgundian  heroes  numbered  at  least  thirty  to 
their  one.  So  she  entreated,  even  commanded,  them 
to  await  a  more  propitious  moment. 

"  Rather  remain  and  mourn  with  me  until  the  day 
dawns,"  said  she,  in  conclusion,  "  then  help  me  bury 
my  dead." 

"Dear  lady,"  cried  the  heroes,  with  one  voice, 
"your  will  shall  be  done." 


88 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


During  the  long  night  of  sorrow  that  ensued, 
knights  and  ladies,  burghers  and  their  wives,  mingled 
their  tears  with  those  of  the  departed  warrior's  fair 
wife.  Skillful  artisans  were  employed  to  prepare  a 
coffin  of  silver  and  of  gold,  massive  and  strong,  well 
bound  with  iron ;  and  when  the  morning  light  ap- 
peared, Kriemhild  had  her  dear  husband's  body  placed 
within  it  and  borne  to  the  minster.  She  followed, 
weeping  sore,  and  in  her  train  came  those  whom  she 
knew  to  be  her  friends.  The  bells  tolled  dismally, 
priests  chanted  the  mournful  requiem,  and  the  people 
gathered  together  from  every  quarter  to  do  honor 
to  the  dead.  King  Gunther  and  his  vassals,  grim 
Hagen  with  the  rest,  joined  the  band  of  mourners. 
It  would  have  been  wiser  had  they  not  done  so. 
Gunther  wept. 

"  Alas  for  your  woeful  loss,  dear  sister,"  quoth  he. 
"We  must  evermore  bewail  Siegfried's  death." 

"Why  feign  a  grief  you  cannot  feel?"  cried 
Kriemhild,  in  her  dire  distress.  "  Could  you  truly 
mourn  his  loss,  this  had  never  been." 

Gunther  assured  her  that  neither  he  nor  his  were 
in  anywise  responsible  for  this  foul  deed,  and  waxed 
eloquent  in  his  false  expressions  of  sympathy  and 
sorrow. 

"Whoe'er  in  this  be  guiltless,"  was  Kriemhild's 
sole  reply,  "let  him  now  approach  the  bier  in  pre- 
sence of  the  multitude." 

The  nobles  dared  not  offer  any  objections  to  this 
test,  although  they  firmly  believed  that  in  presence 
of  the  blood-stained  murderer  the  wound  of  the  mur- 
dered man  would  bleed  afresh.  Now  it  came  to  pass 
that  as  Hagen  drew  near,  the  blood  oozed  slowly 


SIEGFRIED  BEWAILED  AND  BURIED. 


89 


from  the  wound.  Gunther  was  alarmed  at  this,  and 
attempted  an  explanation. 

"  Listen  to  the  truth,  dear  sister,"  said  he.  "  Rob- 
bers slew  him.    Hagen  never  did  it." 

"  These  robbers  are  well  known  to  me,"  replied 
Kriemhild.  "  Gunther  and  Hagen,  it  was  you  who 
did  this.  May  God  punish  you  through  the  hands 
of  Siegfried's  friends." 

One  and  all  the  Nibelungen  heroes  showed  them- 
selves in  readiness  to  fall  upon  the  murderers,  but  a 
single  look  from  the  sorrow-laden  lad}7,  who  had 
speedily  recovered  her  self-possession,  reminded  them 
that  they  must  bide  their  time.  Kriemhild's  brothers, 
Gemot  and  Giselher,  the  child,  now  came  forward,  and 
gave  every  evidence  of  sincerely  mourning  the  dead. 
They  had  wept  themselves  almost  blind  at  tidings  of 
Siegfried's  murder,  and  now  poured  tender  words  of 
sympathy  into  their  sister's  ear.  Alas !  no  words 
could  assuage  the  grief  of  the  stricken  mourner. 

The  coffin  was  deposited  in  front  of  the  altar 
within  the  minster,  and  there  for  three  long  days  and 
nights  homage  was  paid  the  dead.  Priests  sang  long 
masses  for  the  repose  of  the  royal  warrior's  soul,  and 
throngs  of  worshipers  filled  the  sacred  edifice  day  and 
night,  weeping  and  praying  for  him  who  was  the 
friend  of  all.  Dame  Ute  came  with  her  followers  to 
unburden  her  heavy  heart,  and  old  King  Siegmund, 
as  he  bowed  his  aged  form  in  woe  unspeakable,  felt 
that  all  joy  in  life  was  over  for  him.  At  least  an 
hundred  masses  were  sung  each  day,  and  throughout 
the  vicinity  no  child  was  too  small  to  attend  a  por- 
tion of  these.  By  order  of  the  mourners,  many  thou- 
sand marks  were  expended  for  the  funeral  solemnities, 


90 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


and  treasures  were  scattered  abroad  without  stint 
among  the  poor  of  the  realm. 

During  all  this  period  Kriemhild  had  remained  by 
her  dead  warrior's  side,  weeping,  fasting  and  praying, 
and  many  there  were  of  Siegfried's  nearest  friends 
and  retainers  who  watched  with  her.  When  the  last 
mass  had  been  solemnized,  the  last  anthem  had  died 
away,  the  coffin  lid  was  closed,  the  body  borne  away 
for  burial.  Kriemhild's  strength  now  gave  way ;  her 
attendants  were  compelled  to  sprinkle  her  wan  face 
with  cold  water  from  the  spring  ere  they  could  suc- 
ceed in  leading  her  to  the  grave.  When  the  latter 
was  reached,  she  broke  down  completely. 

"  O  ye  vassals  of  my  Siegfried,"  spake  the  queen, 
"in  mercy  grant  me  one  favor.  Think  of  my  un- 
utterable woe,  and  let  my  eyes  once  more  rest  upon 
his  noble  face." 

Moved  by  her  piteous  entreaties,  the  pall-bearers 
paused  with  their  precious  burden,  and  the  coffin  lid 
was  removed.  The  poor  widow  bowed  in  anguish 
over  all  that  remained  of  her  lord,  took  the  head 
between  her  hands,  gazed  earnestly  into  the  wan  face 
and  covered  it  with  kisses  of  frantic  devotion,  amid 
which  consciousness  mercifully  forsook  her.  Such  a 
sorrowful  farewell  had  never  before  been  witnessed. 
Then  the  coffin  lid  was  replaced,  and  the  hero's  body 
laid  in  the  grave,  while  fair  Kriemhild  was  gently 
uplifted  from  the  ground  and  carried  back  to  the 
castle,  where  she  lay  in  a  heavy  swoon  until  the  next 
day. 


EIGHTEENTH  ADVENTURE. 

HOW  SIEGMUND  JOURNEYED  HOME  AND  KRIEMHILD 
TARRIED  BEHIND. 

TZ"I]STG  SIEGMUND,  also,  was  exhausted  with 


JLX_  grief,  long  fasting  and  loss  of  sleep.  After 
the  earth  had  closed  over  his  beloved  son,  like  his 
unhappy  daughter-in-law,  he  swooned  away.  What 
wonder  that  they  who  were  subject  to  him  wistfully 
turned  their  thoughts  homeward,  feeling  that  they 
could  no  longer  endure  to  remain  in  a  land  where 
they  had  known  such  grievous  wrong?  So  soon  as 
the  bereaved  father  had,  in  a  measure,  recovered 
from  the  first  shock  of  his  grief,  he  sought  the  pres- 
ence of  Siegfried's  widowed  queen. 

"  Let  us  go  hence  -  to  our  own  land,"  said  he. 
"  Here  we  are  unwelcome  guests,  I  ween.  For  your 
people's  foul  treachery  you  shall  never  suffer,  Kriem- 
hild,  beloved  daughter;  dear  to  my  heart  you  shall 
ever  be  for  love  of  my  noble  son  and  your  child. 
Once  home  in  our  own  land,  you  shall  wear  the  crown 
and  all  high  honors  Siegfried  gave  you,  and  they  who 
called  him  liege  will  gladly  serve  you." 

Little  caring  what  became  of  her,  yet  abhorring 
the  thought  of  possible  contact  with  her  hated  en- 
emy, Kriemhild  passively  permitted  preparations  for 
departure  to  be  made.  Knights  and  ladies  donned 
their  traveling  suits,  but  just  as  King  Siegmund  had 
signified  his  readiness  to  set  forth,  Kriemhild's  mother 

91 


92 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


became  aware  of  what  was  about  to  happen.  Deeply 
pained,  the  worthy  dame  hastened  to  seek  her  daugh- 
ter and  beseech  her  to  remain  at  home  with  her  kins- 
folk. 

"Nay,  that  can  scarcely  be,"  responded  the  joy- 
less one.  "  How  could  I  bear  to  have  ever  before 
my  eyes  him  by  whom  I,  poor  woman,  have  been  so 
wronged  ? " 

"  Dear  sister  mine,"  said  young  Giselher,  "  you 
should  stay  here  with  your  mother." 

"I  should  die  of  woe  if  I  must  see  Hagen," 
wTailed  the  desolate  lady. 

"  You  need  never  see  him,  beloved  sister,"  said 
the  tender  brother.  "  You  will  be  with  Giselher, 
your  brother.    I  will  shield  and  protect  you." 

Noble  Gemot,  also,  assured  Kriemhild  of  his  af- 
fectionate readiness  to  serve  her,  reminding  her  how 
much  better  it  would  be  for  her  in  years  to  come  to 
be  with  her  friends  than  in  the  land  where  she  was 
henceforth  but  a  stranger,  and  finally,  thus  urged,  she 
promised  to  remain. 

When  this  decision  became  known  to  the  vener- 
able Siegmund,  his  heart  was  sore  oppressed  and  right 
sorrowful  was  his  mood.  Most  earnestly  did  he  strive 
to  persuade  his  son's  wTidow  to  abide  by  her  first  in- 
tention, but  she  told  him  that  she  felt  it  best  to  ac- 
cept the  counsel  of  those  who  were  her  nearest  of 
kin,  which  was,  not  to  return  unto  the  Nibelungen 
land.  King  Siegmund  reproachfully  inquired  if  she 
thought  it  best  to  forsake  her  child. 

"  When  y our  son  grows,"  said  he,  "  he  may  bring 
solace  to  you." 

"  Sir  Siegmund,"  she  replied,  u  I  cannot  go  with 


HOW  SIEGMUND  JOURNEYED  HOME. 


«.»:; 


you.  I  must  stay  with  those  who  can  sorrow  with 
me  in  my  woe.  My  dear  little  child  I  trust  to  you 
and  these  our  faithful  knights.  One  day  he  will  be 
ruler  in  your  land ;  to  your  keeping  I  can  safely  con- 
lide  him." 

When  King  Siegmund's  retainers  and  those  who 
had  called  Siegfried  master  found  that  their  sover- 
eign lady  refused  to  accompany  them  home,  they  set 
up  a  most  piteous  wail  of  lamentation,  and  amid 
this,  with  heavy  heart,  the  venerable  king  took  leave 
of  the  fair  and  sorrow-laden  queen.  Fondly  kissing 
her,  he  bewailed  his  sorrowful  fate. 

"  Alas,  for  this  high-tide ! " —  thus  did  the  monarch 
pour  forth  his  grief.  "Never,  indeed,  did  prince  and 
his  people  suffer  such  wrong  for  merry  pastime's  sake. 
Kriemhild,  farewell,  we  ride  hence  poor  in  friends, 
nevermore  to  come  again." 

"  Ay,  but  we  may  come  again ! "  cried  the  Nibe- 
1  un gen  heroes,  with  one  voice,  "if  we  but  learn  who 
slew  our  lord.  Ready  will  many  be  to  avenge  his 
death." 

Attempting  no  other  leave-takings,  they  all  silent- 
ly departed  from  the  land.  Gemot  and  Giselher, 
longing  to  assure  the  stricken  king  and  his  trusty 
vassals  of  their  warm  friendship  and  sympathy,  fol- 
lowed after  them  from  Worms  to  the  Rhine  valley, 
and  lovingly  accosted  them  : 

"  God  in  heaven  knows  that  we  are  innocent  of 
Siegfried's  death!  We  truly  mourn  his  loss,"  said 
Sir  Gemot,  and  young  Giselher  insisted  upon  the 
departing  guests  accepting  their  escort  to  the  con- 
fines of  the  land. 

Thus  Kriemhild  was  once  more  established  in 


94 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


her  own  home.  All  who  were  admitted  into  her 
presence  dealt  tenderly  with  her,  but  none  could 
afford  her  such  consolation  as  Giselher,  the  child. 
Haughty  Brunhild  heard  much  of  the  widow's  grief 
and  never-ceasing  lamentation;  but  what  cared  she? 
She  knew  not  that  the  day  was  destined  to  come 
when  dame  Kriemhild  would  requite  woe  with  woe. 


NINETEENTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  THE  HOARD  CAME  TO  WORMS. 

IN  Worms,  near  the  minster,  spacious  and  sumpt- 
uous apartments  were  set  apart  for  the  use  of 
the  widowed  Kriemhild,  and  there  the  joyless  one 
was  served  by  faithful  margrave  Eckewart  and  his 
knights,  who  had  followed  her  to  the  Netherlands  at 
the  time  of  her  marriage.  Dame  Ute  came  often  with 
her  ladies  to  visit  her ;  Gemot  and  Giselher,  her  well- 
beloved  brothers,  often  sought  her  presence;  yet  her 
wounded  heart  was  not  healed  —  there  seemed  to  be 
no  comfort  for  her.  With  deep  devotion  she  attended 
the  services  at  the  minster ;  she  passed  hours  by  her 
hero's  grave,  weeping  and  praying,  and  she  proved 
her  virtue. 

Three  years  rolled  away,  and  during  this  time  she 
had  spoken  never  a  word  to  her  brother  Gunther,  nor 
had  her  eyes  rested  upon  her  arch-enemy,  Hagen. 
The  latter  began  to  grow  seriously  uneasy  at  his  liege 
lord's  remaining  so  long  under  the  displeasure  of  one 
who  had  such  a  mighty  treasure  at  her  command, 
and  he  strenuously  advised  seeking  a  reconciliation, 
in  order  that  there  might  be  some  possibility  of  trans- 
ferring the  Nibelungen  hoard  to  their  land.  He 
finally  succeeded  in  moving  Gunther  to  entreat  his 
brothers  to  bring  about  this  reconciliation. 

Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  these  valiant  brothers 
went  to  Kriemhild  and  made  known  unto  her  Gun- 

95 


96 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


ther's  desire  to  be  at  peace  with  her.  Bold  Gemot 
assured  her  that  her  grief  had  made  her  unjust,  that 
the  king  must  be  innocent  of  Siegfried's  death,  as  he 
had  ever  declared  himself  to  be ;  at  last  he  persuaded 
his  sister  to  promise  that  she  would  receive  Gunther 
with  kindly  greetings  and  words  of  forgiveness,  what- 
ever dark  suspicions  must  remain  buried  within  her 
bosom.    Ilagen  she  could  not  be  induced  to  see. 

"His  hand  dealt  the  blow  which  robbed  me  of 
my  lord,"  she  said.  "  I  showed  him,  myself,  the  spot 
where  alone  steel  could  harm  him.    Ah,  woe  is  me  ! " 

Gunther  came  without  delay  to  pay  his  respects 
to  Siegfried's  widowed  queen,  and  with  him  came  his 
trustiest  friends  —  Hagen  alone  not  venturing  to  enter 
her  presence.  Kriemhild  received  them  with  mourn- 
ful gentleness,  and  never  was  peace  cemented  with  so 
many  tears.  Full  well  did  she  know  where  to  place 
blame,  and  yet  she  felt  ready  to  extend  forgiveness  to 
all  but  one  man. 

Ere  long  it  was  represented  to  Kriemhild  that  the 
Nibelungen  hoard,  being  her  lawful  dower,  should  be 
in  her  immediate  possession.  So  little  did  she  now 
care  for  worldly  matters,  that  she  was  very  readily 
induced  to  dispatch  her  brothers  Gemot  and  Giselher, 
with  eight  thousand  men  under  their  command,  to 
remove  this  wondrous,  and,  from  its  earliest  origin, 
mischief-breeding  treasure,  to  Worms.  The  dwarf, 
Alberich,  was  loth  to  part  with  it. 

"  We  have  no  right  to  withhold  it,"  quoth  he  to 
his  friends,  "for  it  is,  beyond  doubt,  Queen  Kriem- 
hild's  dower.  Yet  never  should  these  bold  intruders 
have  it,  had  we  not  lost  the  good  Tarnkappe  and 
Siegfried,  our  lord,  who  wore  it." 


HOW  THE  HOARD  CAME  TO  WORMS. 


97 


Sadly  the  keeper  yielded  up  his  keys,  and  the  work 
of  removal  began.  Twelve  wagons  were  constantly 
employed  during  four  days  and  four  nights  in  convey- 
ing the  treasure  from  the  mountain  side  to  the  barks 
waiting  to  bear  it  over  the  waves  to  Worms.  Con- 
cealed amid  the  gold  and  precious  stones  lay  the  cele- 
brated wishing-rod.  Whosoever  had  discovered  that, 
knowing  its  secret,  might  have  become  lord  of  the 
whole  broad  earth. 

The  removal  of  this  treasure  rendered  Gemot  and 
Giselher  lords  of  the  Nibelungen  land,  and  when  they 
sailed  hence  they  bore  with  them  many  of  the  heroes. 
At  Worms,  vast  towers  and  chambers  were  filled  with 
this  boundless  hoard,  which  exceeded  all  the  marvels 
that  had  ever  been  heard  of  in  the  Burgundian  land. 
Kriemhild  was  mistress  supreme,  and  her  keys  she 
entrusted  to  her  younger  brothers  alone.  With  lavish 
hand  she  now  scattered  her  costly  gifts  among  rich 
and  poor  of  the  land.  Such  regal  generosity  had 
never  been  known.  Many  there  were  ready  to  enter 
into  her  service,  and  the  stranger  knights  in  vast 
numbers  rallied  about  her.  Then  Hagen  sought  King 
Gunther,  saying : 

"A  wise  man  never  confides  such  treasures  to 
woman's  hand.  We  will  come  to  rue  the  day  we 
gave  her  power  to  make  such  gifts." 

"  The  hoard  is  hers,"  said  King  Gunther.  "  I 
made  her  a  solemn  vow  never  to  harm  her  more,  and 
I  will  abide  by  it." 

"Let  me  be  the  guilty  one,"  said  Hagen. 

When  the  faithful  brothers  Gemot  and  Giselher 
learned  that  their  kinsman  Hagen  wished  to  deprive 
their  sister  of  her  lawful  possession,  they  were  very 


98 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


angry,  and  vowed  to  shield  her  from  further  wrong 
than  she  had  suffered  in  their  land.  Little  availed 
their  vows  or  those  of  their  royal  brother,  for  the  sor- 
row-stricken widow  was  robbed  of  her  hoard. 

The  king  and  his  friends  pricked  forth  into  the 
land  on  an  expedition  of  some  import.  Hagen  alone 
remained  behind  at  Worms  because  of  the  hatred  he 
bore  Kriemhild.  He  managed,  through  his  wile,  to 
gain  possession  of  the  queen's  keys,  and  ere  his  lords 
had  returned,  great  mischief  was  accomplished.  The 
hoard  had  been  sunk  into  the  Rhine  by  Hagen  and 
his  followers,  all  of  whom  he  had  compelled  to  take 
solemn  oaths  that  they  would  never  reveal  to  mortal 
the  spot  where  it  lay  buried.  Since  he  knew  that  he 
would  never  be  permitted  to  control  this  matchless 
treasure  for  his  dear  master's  benefit,  the  grim  knight 
had  resolved  that  none  other  should  profit  by  it. 

When  the  royal  brothers  returned  to  court,  they 
were  so  deeply  incensed  at  what  their  kinsman  had 
done  that  he  found  it  wise  to  withdraw  from  their 
presence  for  a  season.  As  for  Kriemhild,  she  wept 
bitter  tears  over  the  new  injury  inflicted  upon  her;  it 
brought  back  afresh  all  her  heart's  woe,  and  her  dames 
and  maidens  joined  with  her  in  her  loud  lamentations. 
Yet  small  was  its  loss  compared  with  that  of  Sieg- 
fried, her  friend  of  friends. 

After  her  husband's  death,  dame  Ute  had  founded, 
and  richly  endowed,  a  princely  abbey  at  Lorsch,  be- 
tween Worms  and  the  Odenwald,  and  when  Siegfried 
was  slain,  his  faithful  widow  sent  thither  lavish  stores 
of  gold  and  precious  stones,  that  masses  might  be  held 
for  the  repose  of  souls. 

To  a  lofty  and  magnificent  retreat  she  had  had  pre- 


HOW  THE  HOARD  CAME  TO  WORMS. 


99 


pared  hard  by  the  abbey,  worthy  dame  Ute  retired  in 
the  thirteenth  year  of  her  daughter's  widowhood. 
Kriemhild  still  bewailed  her  Siegfried's  loss ;  for  this 
she  won  great  praise.  Her  mother  could  not  bear  to 
leave  her  alone  with  her  grief. 

"Dear  daughter  mine,"  said  she,  "come  with  me 
to  Lorsch  and  cease  your  weeping." 

But  Kriemhild  refused  to  leave  her  hero's  grave, 
nor  would  she  promise  to  go  with  her  mother  until 
consent  was  given  her  to  remove  the  bones  of  her 
beloved  to  the  Lorsch  minster.  This  removal  was 
effected  with  all  honor,  and  there,  to  this  day,  we  are 
told,  lies  the  long  coffin  with  the  warrior's  remains. 
Kriemhild  was  about  to  follow,  but  this  was  not  to 
be.  She  was  detained  by  new  tidings  which  came 
over  the  Khine,  and  of  which  we  shall  hear  anon. 


BOOK  II. 


TWENTIETH  ADVENTURE. 

HOW  KING  ETZEL  SUED  FOR  KRIEMHILD'S  HAND. 

THESE  were  the  days  when  dame  Helke  died,  and 
the  great  Etzel,  king  of  the  Huns,  bethought 
him  of  solacing  his  own  woes  by  seeking  another 
queen.  His  friends  and  vassals  had  strongly  urged 
him  to  do  so,  and  especially  commended  to  his  favor- 
able consideration  a  certain  proud  Burgundian  widow, 
dame  Kriemhild  by  name. 

"  Ah  !  "  spake  the  wealthy  king.  "  It  were  use- 
less to  think  of  her.  I  am  a  pagan,  she  a  christian. 
A  wonder  must  be  wrought  to  bring  her  here." 

"Perhaps  your  honored  name  and  your  great 
riches  may  lead  her  to  overlook  the  difference  of  re- 
ligions," replied  the  nobles.  "  Well  would  it  behoove 
you  to  make  the  trial,  for  this  glorious  dame  merits 
the  favor  of  the  greatest  of  kings." 

"Which  of  you  are  best  acquainted  in  this  king- 
dom on  the  Rhine?"  asked  King  Etzel,  moved  to 
interest  by  the  words  of  his  friends. 

"The  noble  kings  of  the  land,  Gunther,  Gemot 
and  Giselher,  three  brave  knights  and  true,  have  been 
well  known  to  me  from  childhood  up,"  spake  the 
good  Riidiger  of  Bechlaren.    "  For  their  honor  and 

101 


102 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LA^D. 


their  virtue  they  have  won  as  high  repute  as  did  their 
puissant  forefathers." 

"  Friend,  tell  me  true,"  quoth  the  wealthy  king, 
"  is  she  indeed  worthy  to  wear  the  crown  of  this  great 
land  ?  And  has  she  truly  such  beauty  as  the  world 
attributes  to  her?" 

"  For  peerless  grace  and  beauty  she  may  vie  with 
my  ever-honored  lady,  dame  Helke,"  was  Riidiger's 
reply.  "  Fairer  no  queen  in  this  broad  earth  could 
be.  Who  chooses  her  for  his  bride  may  well  find 
solace." 

"  Then,  as  you  love  me,  dear  Eiidiger,"  cried  the 
king,  "  woo  and  win  her  for  me.  If  Kriemhild  be- 
comes mine,  I  will  reward  you  as  best  I  can.  All 
that  you  desire  of  gold,  horses  and  fine  raiment  shall 
be  freely  given  you  from  my  treasure-stores,  that  you 
and  your  friends  may  revel  in  abundance  as  ye  jour- 
ney onward." 

"  111  would  it  become  me  to  covet  your  stores," 
replied  the  margrave,  wealthy  Eiidiger.  "  Gladly  will 
1  bear  your  message  to  the  Rhine,  but  my  own  stores 
will  suffice  to  equip  me  and  my  followers.  All  that 
1  have  is  the  gift  of  your  hands." 

"  Heaven  prosper  your  journey,"  fervently  ejacu- 
lated King  Etzel.  "  How  soon,  my  friend,  do  you 
think  to  ride  hence?" 

"  Before  sallying  forth  from  this  land,"  was  the 
margrave's  reply,  "  I  must  see  to  equipping  myself 
and  five  hundred  chosen  knights  with  armor  and  rai- 
ment worthy  to  appear  before  the  queen.  In  four- 
and-twenty  days  all  shall  be  ready." 

Riidiger  dispatched  messengers  forthwith  to  Beeh- 
laren,  to  announce  to  his  high-born  margravine,  dame 


KING  ETZEL  SUES  FOR  KRIEMHILD'S  HAND.  103 

Gotelind,  that  he  was  about  journeying  to  a  foreign 
land,  in  order  to  seek  a  bride  for  King  Etzel.  Dame 
Gotelind  was  very  sorrowful  at  these  tidings.  Queen 
Helke  had  been  a  kind  friend  to  her,  and  she  dreaded 
the  thought  of  a  new  royal  mistress.  When  her  hus- 
band arrived,  however,  to  take  leave  of  her,  and  told 
her  who  the  chosen  lady  was,  she  was  comforted,  for 
she  had  heard  much  in  praise  of  Kriemhild. 

In  the  city  of  Vienna,  Riidiger  had  had  sundry 
needful  articles  prepared  for  himself  and  his  followers, 
and  after  rejoicing  in  the  warm  welcome  accorded  him 
in  his  own  home,  by  his  wife  and  fair  young  daugh- 
ter, he  asked  the  former  to  aid  him  in  completing 
the  equipment  from  the  rich  garments  she  always 
kept  ready  in  her  own  treasure-stores.  This  she  did 
with  a  bounteous  hand,  winning  great  praise  from 
her  noble  husband. 

On  the  seventh  day  after  his  arrival  at  home,  all 
preparations  were  completed,  and  Riidiger,  with  his 
tive  hundred  knights,  joyously  rode  forth  from  the 
Hunnish  land.  Their  route  lay  through  Bavaria, 
which  was  at  that  time  in  a  thoroughly  lawless  state ; 
but  Riidiger  and  his  friends,  powerful  as  they  were, 
had  little  occasion  to  fear  the  robbers  who  infested 
the  land.  Within  twelve  days  after  leaving  Bechlaren 
they  reached  the  Rhine,  and  rumors  of  the  approach 
of  foreign  knights  preceded  them  to  Worms.  The 
host  of  the  Rhine  was  tilled  with  wonder  by  the  de- 
scriptions brought  him  of  the  splendor  of  the  approach- 
ing strangers,  and,  as  we  have  known  him  to  do 
before,  sent  for  Hagen,  to  ask  of  him  who  the  knights 
might  be.  At  tirst  Hagen  seemed  unable  to  give  defi- 
nite response,  but  ere  long  he  descried  Riidiger,  and 


104 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


recognized  him  at  once.  Leaving  King  Gunther  to 
make  the  most  of  his  astonishment,  Hagen  hastened 
out  himself,  with  his  friends,  to  welcome  the  strangers. 
As  the  five  hundred  doughty  knights  from  the  land 
of  the  Huns  sprang  from  their  horses,  they  met  with 
a  joyful  reception. 

"  Be  welcome,  all  ye  knights,"  cried  Hagen  of 
Tronje,  in  a  loud,  clear  voice,  "  most  worshipful  Yogt 
of  Bechlaren  and  his  hosts." 

The  swift  Huns  were  indeed  received  with  honors. 
The  king's  nearest  friends  all  pressed  forward  to  unite 
their  words  of  welcome  with  those  of  Hagen. 

"  For  many  a  long  day,"  cried  Ortwin  of  Metz  to 
Riidiger,  "  such  beloved  guests  have  not  been  seen 
within  King  Gunther's  realm." 

The  heroes  spoke  their  thanks  for  the  kindly 
greeting  accorded  them,  and  then  permitted  them- 
selves to  be  led  directly  into  the  palace.  King 
Gunther  awaited  their  coming  in  the  castle  hall,  sur- 
rounded by  many  brave  men.  As  they  entered  his 
presence,  he  arose  from  his  seat,  and  most  hearty  was 
the  welcome  he  accorded  the  distinguished  ambas- 
sador and  his  knights.  Taking  Riidiger  by  the  hand, 
he  led  him  forward  and  seated  him  beside  himself 
upon  the  seat  of  honor.  The  best  wine  that  the  land 
could  afford,  as  well  as  excellent  mead,  was  handed 
round  at  the  king's  command,  to  refresh  the  guests. 
After  Gemot,  Giselher,  Gere,  Dankwart  and  Volker 
had  each  given  abundant  vent  to  their  joy  at  the 
unexpected  arrival,  and  Hagen  had  spoken  a  private 
word  of  reminder  into  the  king's  ear,  of  the 'many 
favors  that  had  been  shown  the  Burgundians,  in  times 
past,  by  King  Etzel  and  his  vassals,  especially  by  this 


KING  ETZEL  SUES  FOR  KRIEMHILD'S  HAND.  105 


very  Riidiger,  King  Gunther  most  courteously  in- 
quired to  what  cause  he  was  indebted  for  the  pleasure 
of  this  visit. 

"My  powerful  liege,  King  Etzel,"  said  the  brave 
Riidiger  in  reply,  and  he  rose  to  his  feet  as  he  spoke, 
"  oilers  to  you  and  all  your  kinsmen  on  the  Rhine 
his  truest  service.  Also,  he  begs  leave  to  make 
known  unto  you  his  dire  distress.  His  whole  land 
is  joyless,  for  our  noble  sovereign  lady,  Helke,  the 
wealthy,  is  dead.  Orphaned  by  her  loss  are  many 
princely  maidens  whom  she  has  trained.  Seldom  has 
king's  land  met  with  so  grievous  a  woe." 

Gunther  expressed  his  deep  sympathy  for  Etzel's 
bereavement,  and  keen  appreciation  of  the  attention 
shown  in  thus  officially  announcing  it  to  him.  Noble 
Gemot  united  with  him,  and  said  that  he  had  heard 
much  of  the  world-renowned  beauty  and  virtue  of  the 
deceased.  Hagen  and  others  corroborated  all  that 
he  said. 

"  Permit  me,  Sir  Gunther,"  resumed  Riidiger,  ad- 
dressing himself  once  more  to  the  king,  "  to  proceed 
further  with  my  royal  master's  message.  King  Etzel, 
richest  of  all  earthly  kings,  has  been  very  lonely  since 
dame  Helke  died.  Tidings  have  latterly  reached  his 
ears  that  your  noble  sister  Kriemhild  has  lived  un- 
wedded  since  brave  Siegfried's  death.  If  this  be  true, 
and  if  you  will  consent,  my  master  bids  me  say  that 
dame  Helke's  crown  shall  be  bestowed  upon  your 
sister,  in  the  presence  of  all  the  nobles  of  our  land,  if 
she  but  heed  his  wooing." 

King  Gunther  was  much  nattered  by  this  pro- 
posal, and  assured  the  messenger  of  high  estate  that 
his  sister  would  be  fulfilling  his  best  wTishes  if  she 


106 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


should  accept.  It  would  be  necessary,  however,  to 
obtain  the  lady's  own  consent,  he  said ;  he  would 
consult  with  her,  and  make  known  her  answer  in  the 
course  of  the  next  three  days.  The  guests  were  then 
led  to  the  sumptuous  apartments  that  had  been  pre- 
pared for  their  reception,  and  were  entertained  with 
so  much  hospitality,  that  Riidiger  had  cause  to  feel 
gratified. 

After  the  guests  had  withdrawn,  King  Gunther 
called  his  friends  around  him,  to  advise  with  them 
upon  the  propriety  of  urging  Kriemhild  to  accept  this 
offer.  All  were  in  favor  of  it  except  Hagen  alone; 
he  vehemently  exclaimed : 

"  If  you  are  wise  you  will  never  permit  this  thing*, 
let  Kriemhild  be  never  so  willing." 

"And  wherefore  should  I  not  permit  it?"  cried 
Gunther.  "  She  is  my  own  sister,  and  has  been 
wronged  in  my  land;  surely  I  should  not  grudge 
her  any  honor  that  might  brighten  her  sad  lot?" 

Hagen,  however,  persisted  in  his  objections,  tak- 
ing pains  to  represent  how  very  dangerous  Kriem- 
hild would  become  to  them,  should  she  thus  attain 
so  much  power.  Gemot  maintained  that  there  was 
not  the  slightest  cause  for  uneasiness  upon  that  score, 
because  of  the  remoteness  of  King  Etzel's  land,  and 
strove  to  overrule  the  dissenting  voice.  Brave  Gisel- 
her  tried  to  shame  Hagen  for  being  willing  to  inter- 
fere with  Kriemhild's  good  fortune,  after  having  al- 
ready done  her  so  much  wrong;  but,  with  dogged 
perseverance,  he  of  the  swift  glances  never  wavered 
from  his  point. 

"Full  sorely  will  you  rue  it  if  she  wears  dame 
Helke's  crown,"  he  said,  sullenly. 


KING  ETZEL  SUES  FOR  KMEMHILD'S  HAND.  10? 


The  brothers  indignantly  refused  to  listen  to 
him;  King  Gnnther  himself,  for  once,  having  cour- 
age to  oppose  the  grim  knight's  powerful  will.  It 
was  agreed  to  acquaint  Kriemhild  with  the  honor 
awaiting  her  acceptance.  Margrave  Gere  volunteered 
to  wait  upon  her  with  tidings  of  the  embassy,  and 
to  urge  her  to  give  ear  to  the  proffered  suit. 

Kriemhild  sat  alone  in  her  chamber,  thinking  of 
her  lost  Siegfried,  when  the  faithful  vassal  was  an- 
nounced to  her.  She  received  him  kindly,  as  was 
her  wont,  but  when  she  found  that  he  had  come  to 
talk  with  her  of  the  wooing  of  a  warrior  bold,  she 
turned  reproachfully  upon  him  and  bade  him  cease 
mocking  at  her  grief.  When,  notwithstanding  this, 
he  continued  to  press  the  suit  on  her  favorable  con- 
sideration, she  loudly  protested  against  it.  Gemot 
and  Giselher,  her  favorite  brothers,  came  now  and 
lovingly  besought  her  not  to  wholly  refuse  the  con- 
sideration of  what  might  bring  her  solace,  even  joy ; 
and  finally,  although  she  vowed  that  never  more  up- 
on earth  would  she  hearken  unto  man's  wooing,  she 
consented  to  give  audience  to  King  Etzel's  high-born 
messenger.  It  would  please  her  to  receive  Riidiger, 
she  said,  because  of  his  virtue,  but  his  message  was 
in  vain.  So  soon  as  she  was  left  alone,  the  sorrow- 
stricken  woman  burst  into  fresh  weeping  and  lamenta- 
tion. The  very  mention  of  a  new  courtship  seemed 
to  intensify  the  faithful  widow's  grief.  Unbounded 
had  been  her  love,  unbounded  was  her  woe. 

The  next  morning,  soon  after  early  mass,  the  no- 
ble Hiidiger  was  ushered  into  her  presence.  Kriem- 
hild had  made  no  grand  toilette  for  his  reception,  as 
once  she  would  have  done ;  she  was  clad  in  weeds  of 


108 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


woe,  although  rich  and  gay  was  the  attire  of  her 
maidens;  but  she  listened  patiently  to  his  eloquent 
delivery  of  his  royal  master's  message.  When  he 
had  concluded,  she  thus  replied : 

"JSTo  one  who  truly  knewT  my  heart's  deep  woe, 
noble  Eiidiger,  would  counsel  me  to  wed  another 
lord.  I  have  lost  the  noblest,  grandest  one  that  ever 
woman  won." 

"  What  can  better  still  the  voice  of  grief,"  spake 
the  valiant  man,  "  than  friendly  love  ?  Etzel,  the  glo- 
rious king,  offers  you  love  without  grief,  and  all  the 
friendliness  his  heart  cherished  for  Helke,  our  queen. 
My  gracious  master  is  the  richest  and  noblest  of 
earthly  monarchs ;  twelve  kings  and  thirty  princes,  all 
conquered  by  his  might,  are  subject  to  him.  You 
will  be  mistress,  besides,  of  many  worthy  knights,  who 
served  Helke,  my  sovereign  lady,  and  many  beauteous 
maidens  of  princely  birth." 

"Ah!"  cried  the  sorrowing  queen,  "how  could 
I  ever  again  become  wife  of  hero  ?  Death  hath 
wrought  me  such  grievous  wrong  through  one  I  loved, 
that  I  must  weep  and  mourn  until  my  end." 

Then  Riidiger  waxed  eloquent.  He  described  the 
splendor  with  which  she  would  be  surrounded  as  King 
Etzel's  queen,  pictured  the  happy,  honored,  useful  life 
she  might  lead,  and  told  how  eagerly  the  monarch 
and  his  vast  hosts  of  vassals  awaited  tidings  of  her 
reply.  Wearied  at  last  with  his  importunities,  Kriem- 
hild  besought  the  knight  of  Bechlaren  to  leave  her 
for  a  season,  and  come  again  on  the  morrow,  if  he 
would.  When  he  was  gone,  she  sent  for  her  mother 
and  her  dear  brother  Giselher,  and  she  talked  with 
them  of  the  wooing,  and  said  that  weeping  alone 


KING  ETZEL  SUES  FOR  KRIEMHILO'S  HAND.  109 


became  her,  nothing  more.  Young  Giselher  told  her 
that  she  should  rejoice  to  be  thus  chosen  by  a  mon- 
arch than  whom  the  world  knew  none  more  powerful, 
begging  her  not  to  refuse  a  union  of  which,  whatever 
others  might  say,  he  most  heartily  approved.  And 
good  old  dame  Ute  said  : 

"Your  brothers  all  advise  it,  dear  child.  Heed 
your  friends ;  long  enough  have  you  lived  in  sor- 
row." 

All  night  long  the  widowed  queen  lay  awake,  full 
of  thought,  taking  counsel  with  her  own  heart  as  to 
her  best  course  of  action,  and  humbly  imploring  the 
all-powerful  God  to  guide  her  aright.  Could  it  be 
other  than  sin,  should  she,  a  christian  woman,  wed  a 
pagan?  she  queried.  Would  she  not  justly  merit  the 
blame  of  the  world  by  so  doing?  When  Riidiger 
came  to  her  in  the  morning,  after  they  had  all  attend- 
ed mass,  he  found  her  still  unwilling  to  give  favorable 
reply  to  his  master's  suit.  The  wealthy  margrave 
repeated  all  his  arguments  of  the  previous  day,  adding 
much  besides,  without  arousing  the  slightest  interest, 
but  he  struck  the  right  chord  at  last  by  the  following 
insinuating  remark : 

"You  do  wrong,  O  queen,  to  deprive  the  world 
of  the  sight  of  so  much  beauty  by  wasting  your  days 
alone  in  vain  mourning.  Accept  my  master's  offer, 
become  his  beloved  and  honored  queen,  and  you  will 
have  at  your  command  great  power.  Were  there  of 
Hunnish  knights  but  myself  and  my  vassals  alone, 
you  might  be  well  avenged  had  any  one  ever  done 
you  harm." 

A  lurid  gleam  of  hope,  after  her  long  years  of 
darkness,  broke  on  Kriemhild  as  she  listened  to  these 


110 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


words,  and  all  the  pent-up  hatred  and  lust  for  revenge 
surged  madly  in  her  heart.  Almost  vehemently  she 
turned  upon  Riidiger  and  made  him  swear  her  a 
solemn  oath  that  wherever  and  however  she  might 
call  upon  him  for  aid,  he  would  unhesitatingly  serve 
her.  When  he  had  fully  satisfied  her  upon  this  score, 
all  doubts  but  one  were  removed  from  her  mind. 

"  Did  I  not  know  that  Etzel  was  a  pagan,"  cried 
she,  "  I  should  gladly  go  with  you  and  take  him  for 
my  lord." 

"  Let  not  that  deter  you,"  rejoined  Rudiger. 
"  There  are  as  many  christians  as  pagans  at  King 
Etzel's  court, — I  am  a  christian  myself.  As  for  my 
noble  master,  he  was  once  baptized,  but  he  went  back 
again  to  the  old  faith.  You  can  easily  lead  him, 
through  your  love,  to  turn  his  thoughts  once  more  to 
the  true  God." 

Thereupon  Kriemhild  ceased  to  offer  further  objec- 
tions, and  allowed  herself  to  be  persuaded  into  mak- 
ing immediate  preparations  for  departure.  She  asked 
who  of  the  nobles  would  accompany  her,  and  Ecke- 
wart  offered  his  services,  at  once  gathering  together 
his  followers  to  make  arrangements  for  the  journey. 
As  for  the  sorrowful  bride  herself,  she  was  now  too 
busy  to  brood  over  the  past.  She  had  to  superin- 
tend the  overlooking  of  the  vast  court  wardrobe  and 
jewels  that  had  so  long  remained  locked  away  from 
her  sight,  select  suitable  articles  from  them  for  her 
own  outfit  and  that  of  her  attendants,  and  order 
new  garments  made.  All  this  fully  occupied  twelve 
days,  and  then  Kriemhild  determined  to  distribute 
among  Kudiger's  people  the  gold  which  had  }^et  re- 
mained in  her  possession  after  Hagen  had  had  the 


KING  ETZEL  SUES  FOR  KRIEMHILD'S  HAND.  Ill 


Nibelungen  hoard  sunk  in  the  Rhine.  Upon  being 
apprised  of  this,  the  knight  of  Tronje  made  such  stir 
about  it  that  the  matter  finally  came  to  Riidiger's 
ears.  This  noble  champion  immediately  sought  audi- 
ence with  the  queen,  and  thus  accosted  her : 

"  What  care  you  for  this  gold,  all-worshipful  king's 
daughter?  In  King  Etzel's  land  such  stores  will  be 
placed  at  your  command  that  should  you  distribute 
them  with  ever  so  lavish  a  hand  you  could  never 
exhaust  them." 

"Most  noble  Riidiger,"  replied  the  queen,  "never 
more  can  such  treasures  be  mine  as  those  of  which 
Hagen  has  already  despoiled  me." 

The  matter  was  amicably  settled,  however,  and 
Kriemhild  contented  herself  with  dedicating  the  gold 
contained  in  twelve  coffers,  which  had  remained  in 
charge  of  some  of  her  maidens  since  the  good  old 
days,  to  having  masses  sung  for  the  repose  of  her 
departed  Siegfried's  soul.  This  Rudiger  viewed  as 
a  token  of  highest  fidelity. 

Kriemhild  and  her  maidens  bade  a  tearful  fare- 
well to  their  friends,  and  then  were  ready  to  follow 
the  strangers.  Gunther  accompanied  his  sister  to 
the  city  gates,  while  Gemot,  Giselher,  and  many  of 
their  most  faithful  friends,  continued  onward  as  far 
as  the  banks  of  the  Danube.  When,  finally,  they 
were  obliged  to  turn  back,  they  took  an  affectionate 
leave  of  Etzel's  bride,  heartily  wishing  her  God-speed 
upon  her  journey,  and  in  her  new  life. 

After  crossing  the  Danube,  messengers  were  sent 
on  in  advance  to  announce  to  King  Etzel  the  suc- 
cess of  Riidiger's  mission,  and  the  approach  of  the 
queen.    So  swiftly  did  they  ride  forward  that  they 


112 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


reached  the  court  long  in  advance  of  the  approach- 
ing retinue;  and  when  they  announced  the  glad  tid- 
ings, King  Etzel's  grief  and  mourning  vanished  be- 
fore the  rapture  that  now  filled  his  heart.  He  re- 
warded the  delighted  bearers  of  the  good  tidings 
with  so  lavish  a  hand  that  there  was  little  likeli- 
hood of  their  ever  experiencing  want  so  long  as 
they  lived. 


TWENTY-FIRST  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  KRIEMHILD  JOURNEYED  TO  THE  LAND  OF  THE 
HUNS. 

AFTER  crossing  the  Danube,  dame  Kriemhild 
and  her  retinue  passed  through  Bavaria,  and 
speedily  reached  the  city  of  Passau,  situated  at  the 
junction  of  the  Inn  and  the  Danube.  Here  dwelt 
dame  Ute's  brother,  bishop  Pilgerin.  The  good 
bishop  was  overjoyed  when  he  learned  that  his  be- 
loved sister's  child  was  without  his  gates,  hastened 
out  with  his  followers  to  greet  her,  conducted  her 
and  her  attendants  into  his  palace,  and  provided  for 
them  a  most  sumptuous  repast.  He  insisted  upon 
their  accepting  his  hospitality  for  several  days,  and 
when  he  found  that  it  was  impossible  to  persuade 
them  to  do  so,  he  resolved  to  accompany  his  dear 
niece  some  distance  upon  her  way. 

From  point  to  point,  as  they  advanced  onward, 
new  escorts  were  added  to  their  numbers,  until, 
finally,  so  large  a  force  was  at  their  command  that 
Kriemhild  had  little  cause  to  fear  the  bands  of  rob- 
bers bold  who  infested  Bavaria.  Just  beyond  the 
town  of  Everdingen,  upon  the  banks  of  the  Enns, 
they  found  an  encampment  of  tents  in  a  broad  field, 
and  every  evidence  of  preparations  for  a  festal  re- 
ception. This  was  the  work  of  Gotelind,  who  had 
been  warned  by  her  husband  of  the  royal  guest's 
approach,  and  was  there  herself  to  meet  her.  The 

113 


114 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


vogt  of  Bechlaren  rode  joyfully  forward  to  accost 
his  wife,  who  was  relieved  of  much  anxiety  at  sight 
of  him.  "When  dame  Kriemhild  saw  the  margra- 
vine, she  lost  no  time  in  requesting  to  be  presented 
to  her,  and  it  did  the  old  bishop's  heart  good  to 
watch  the  welcome  accorded  his  sister's  child  by 
lovely  Gotelind.  This  noble  lady  kissed  her  guest 
upon  the  lips,  and  accosted  her  with  loving  words. 

"  Most  happy  am  I,  dear  lady,"  cried  she,  "  that 
my  eyes  have  beheld  you  in  this  land.  No  greater 
pleasure  could  be  mine !  " 

"  Now  God  reward  you,  most  noble  Gotelind ! " 
said  Kriemhild.  "  May  good  betide  you  from  my 
coming." 

Unclouded  by  thoughts  of  the  events  which  must 
befall  them  in  the  days  to  come,  they  seated  them- 
selves in  state  upon  the  clover,  and  discoursed  right 
merrily.  The  travelers  rested  in  this  place  all  day 
and  all  night,  and  the  following  morning  journeyed 
onward  to  Bechlaren,  where  a  brilliant  reception 
awaited  Kriemhild.  The  windows  of  all  the  houses 
in  the  town  were  thrown  wide  open,  and  were 
crowded  with  spectators,  all  eager  to  behold  the 
expected  guests.  The  vogt  of  Bechlaren's  young 
daughter,  Dietelind,  sallied  forth  with  her  maidens 
to  welcome  the  honored  guest  and  conduct  her  into 
the  palace. 

Kriemhild's  spirits  were  greatly  heightened  by 
the  attentions  bestowed  upon  her.  Had  she  all  the 
treasures  that  were  once  at  her  command,  she  would 
have  been  very  lavish  of  her  gifts  to  those  around 
her.  As  it  was,  she  dealt  out  large  shares  of  the 
personal  possessions  she  carried  with  her.  Young 


kriemhild's  journey. 


115 


Dietelind  received  from  her  twelve  bracelets  of  great 
value,  and  several  of  the  finest  garments  that  she 
had  brought  with  her  into  King  Etzel's  land.  The 
margravine,  in  her  turn,  showered  costly  gifts  on 
dame  Kriemhild's  ladies,  and  the  knights  from  the 
Rhine.  At  parting,  Dietelind  offered  to  follow  her 
future  mistress  to  court  as  maid  of  honor,  and 
Kriemhild  was  right  heartily  glad  of  this  proof  of 
affection. 

What  further  betided  the  strangers  in  margrave 
Riidiger's  palace  is  not  known,  yet  certain  it  is  that 
both  knights  and  ladies  were  loth  to  leave  it,  when 
they  found  that  they  were  expected  to  hasten  on- 
ward without  long  delay.  The  leave-takings  on  all 
sides  were  most  friendly,  then  the  guests  mounted 
their  prancing  horses  and  rode  away.  In  the  town 
of  Medelick  (now  called  Molk),  costly  wine  was  of- 
fered the  guests  as  they  passed  through  the  streets. 
The  lord  of  the  place,  Astold  by  name,  directed 
them  by  which  route  to  further  pursue  their  jour- 
ney. Down  the  Danube  banks,  as  he  told  them, 
they  went,  until  they  came  to  the  town  of  Mauta- 
ren.  Here  the  bishop  of  Passau  parted  from  his 
niece,  bidding  her  God-speed,  and  hoping  that  she 
might  rise  to  such  high  honors,  in  her  new  home, 
as  dame  Helke  had  attained.  His  wishes  were 
more  than  fulfilled,  as  we  shall  soon  see. 

In  a  short  time  the  guests  reached  the  Traisem. 
Here  the  monarch  of  the  Huns  had  a  stronghold 
called  Traisenmauer,  where  Queen  Helke  had  fre- 
quently tarried  of  yore,  dispensing  blessings  around 
her.  This  stronghold  was  now  prepared  for  Kriem- 
hild's reception,  and  here  the  queen,  with  her  reti- 


116 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


nue,  tarried  until  the  fourth  day.  Here  she  had  a 
fine  opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  many 
of  her  future  husband's  vassals,  and  was  surprised 
at  the  noble  courtesy  and  gentle  kindliness  displayed 
in  this  heathen  land. 


TWENTY-SECOND  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  KRIEMHILD  WAS  RECEIVED  BY  THE  HUNS. 

THE  further  Kriemhild  progressed  upon  her  jour- 
ney after  leaving  Traisenmauer,  the  more  thor- 
oughly she  became  convinced  that  she  was  in  a 
great  and  powerful  kingdom.  As  the  news  of  her 
advance  spread,  knights  and  warriors  put  spurs 
to  their  horses  and  hastened  from  every  quarter 
through  Austria, —  the  highways  were  clouded  with 
dust.  Knights  of  divers  aspects  and  divers  tongues, 
with  sundry  styles  of  clothing  and  sundry  kinds  of 
weapons;  Russians,  Greeks,  Poles,  and  Wallachians, — 
princes  as  well  as  inferior  nobles, —  all  came  to  pay 
homage  to  their  sovereign  lady.  The  wild  Pesehen- 
egen  and  the  champions  from  the  land  of  Kiow, 
dashed  onward  with  lightning  speed,  often  sending 
arrows  whizzing  into  the  air  with  sure  aim,  and 
bringing  down  birds  upon  the  wing,  to  the  great 
astonishment  of  all  beholders. 

There  is  a  city  on  the  Danube,  in  Austria,  called 
Tulna.  Here  Kriemhild  was  apprised  of  her  new 
lord's  approach.  King  Etzel  had  come  out  to  meet 
his  bride  in  regal  state.  He  was  preceded  by  many 
vassals  whose  sole  desire  was  to  behold  their  queen. 
First  came  Ramung,  duke  of  Wallachia,  with  seven 
hundred  men.  Like  the  swift  flight  of  wild  birds 
was  their  approach.  These  were  followed  by  prince 
Giebecke,  with  his  princely  hosts,  and  Hornbog,  the 

117 


118 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


swift,  with  a  thousand  men,  all  of  whose  horses 
were  prancing  and  pirouetting  according  to  the  cus- 
tom of  the  land.  Also  were  seen  bold  Hawart,  the 
Dane,  and  nimble  Iring,  who  was  known  to  be  with- 
out guile;  Irnfried,  of  Thuringia,  a  most  excellent 
knight,  with  twelve  hundred  followers;  and  Blodel, 
King  Etzel's  brother,  from  the  land  of  the  Huns, 
with  three  thousand  men.  In  all,  four  and  twenty 
princes,  every  one  wealthy  and  of  high  estate,  had 
ridden  forth  with  their  liege  lord  to  do  honor  to  his 
bride,  and  after  these  came  King  Etzel  himself,  ac- 
companied by  Sir  Dietrich  of  Bern,  or  Yerona,  as 
this  place  is  now  called,  with  his  Amulungen  hosts. 

The  noble  Rudiger  had  instructed  Kriemhild  as  to 
the  course  of  action  she  would  be  expected  to  pursue 
in  conformity  with  the  customs  of  the  land.  Etzel's 
vassals  were  not  upon  an  equal  footing,  he  told  her ; 
upon  some  she  must  bestow  the  kiss  of  greeting, 
others  she  must  merely  smile  kindly  upon.  Etzel 
sprang  from  his  horse  and  came  joyfully  forward  to 
greet  the  royal  dame,  followed  by  many  a  brave 
warrior.  As  for  Kriemhild,  she  advanced  with  her 
usual  sweetness  and  dignity,  two  mighty  princes,  as 
is  well  known,  acting  as  her  train-bearers.  She  gra- 
ciously returned  the  noble  sovereign's  kiss  of  wel- 
come, and  so  brilliant  did  she  appear  as  she  did  so, 
that  many  a  witness  declared  that  dame  Helke  could 
never  have  been  more  beautiful  than  this,  their  new 
liege  lady.  The  king's  brother,  Blodel,  stood  near 
at  hand ;  him  Riidiger  counseled  her  to  kiss,  next 
drawing  her  attention  to  King  Giebecke  and  Sir 
Dietrich.  In  all,  Etzel's  queen  kissed  twelve  noble 
knights,  smiling  sweetly  her  greetings  to  many  others. 


KREIMHILD'S  RECEPTION"  BY  THE  HUNS.  119 


While  this  formal  reception  was  taking  place, 
feats  of  chivalry  were  being  displayed  on  every  side. 
Spears  flew  through  the  air,  many  a  shield  was  bat- 
tered in  the  jonstings.  Christians  and  pagans  alike 
added  their  share  to  the  universal  merrymaking.  In 
the  vicinity  there  had  been  erected  a  superb  pavil- 
ion. To  this  King  Etzel  now  led  Kriemhild,  and 
the  words  that  he  spoke  to  her,  as  he  sat  there  by 
her  side,  holding  her  lily-white  hand,  have  never 
been  recorded.  Tents  were  pitched  all  over  the 
broad  fields  for  the  accommodation  of  the  guests. 
After  a  sumptuous  repast,  they  rested  until  morning 
dawned,  Kriemhild,  of  course,  having  awarded  to 
her  the  most  magnificent  tent  of  all. 

The  next  morning,  Kriemhild  and  Etzel  rode  side 
by  side  into  the  city  of  Vienna,  where  their  nuptials 
were  celebrated  with  great  splendor.  The  city  was  so 
crowded  that  the  houses  could  not  contain  all  the 
strangers  who  nocked  in  from  every  direction,  and 
many  were  obliged  to  seek  shelter  without  the  city 
gates.  The  wedding  festivities  began  at  Whitsuntide 
and  lasted  seventeen  days.  Legendary  lore  makes 
mention  of  no  other  king  whose  nuptials  could  com- 
pare in  regal  state  with  these.  Kriemhild  was  forced 
to  admit  that,  rich  as  Siegfried  had  been  in  treasure 
stores,  he  had  neither  so  many  nor  such  mighty 
vassals  in  his  service  as  had  King  Etzel.  And  yet 
the  poor  lady  was  very  sorrowful ;  her  thoughts 
were  ever  wandering  back  to  the  happiness  she  had 
enjoyed  with  her  beloved  Siegfried,  and  which  could 
never  again  be  hers,  and  she  wept  in  secret. 

On  the  eighteenth  day,  King  Etzel  and  his  noble 
queen   took  their  departure   from  Vienna.  King 


120 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Etzel  felt  very  light  of  heart  as  he  led  home  his 
beauteous  and  honored  bride.  At  the  town  of 
Misenburg  they  embarked  on  vessels  which  were  to 
bring  them  to  their  journey's  end.  So  vast  a  fleet 
was  required  for  the  transport  of  the  royal  party, 
that  from  a  short  distance  the  Danube  appeared  to 
be  one  mass  of  men  and  horses.  Arrived  at  Etzl en- 
burg,  new  honors  awaited  dame  Kriemhild.  She 
was  welcomed  with  every  manifestation  of  rejoicing, 
and  found  seven  kings'  daughters  in  readiness  to 
serve  her,  with  Dietrich's  betrothed,  Herrat,  the 
daughter  of  Queen  Helke's  sister  and  King  Nent- 
wine,  at  their  head. 

From  the  wardrobe  and  jewel  stores  she  had 
brought  with  her  from  the  Rhine,  Kriemhild  dealt 
out  gifts  with  so  lavish  a  hand  that  the  people  be- 
gan to  wonder  whether  she  really  had  been  despoiled 
of  such  vast  treasures  as  had  been  said.  Yery  soon 
her  generosity,  her  affability,  her  virtue  and  her  rare 
beauty,  won  her  so  high  repute  that  she  came  to  be 
even  more  honored  and  beloved  than  had  been  her 
predecessor,  dame  Helke.  Idolized  by  King  Etzel 
and  his  people,  her  days  passed  in  the  harmonious 
accomplishment  of  much  good,  and  she  never  ceased 
judiciously  dispensing  the  treasures  her  new  lord  had 
placed  at  her  disposal. 


TWENTY-THIRD  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  KRIEMHILD  THOUGHT  OF  AVENGING  HER  WRONGS. 

IN  these  high  honors  time  sped  on  until  the  seventh 
year.  During  this  period  a  son  wras  born  unto 
the  royal  pair,  and  Kriemhild  gained  the  king's  con- 
sent to  have  him  baptized  according  to  christian  rites. 
Ortlieb,  the  infant,  was  christened,  and  the  whole 
land  was  filled  with  rejoicings  at  his  birth,  while 
the  happy  father,  King  Etzel,  considered  that  now 
life's  greatest  joys  were  his. 

With  the  increasing  years  Kriemhild  became  more 
and  more  beloved  by  her  husband's  people,  foreigners 
and  native  citizens  alike  declaring  that  king's  land 
had  never  possessed  sovereign  lady  of  such  lofty 
virtue.  She  had  given  great  satisfaction  in  preserv- 
ing the  customs  and  the  court  etiquette  instituted 
by  Queen  Helke,  in  which  she  had  taken  pains  to 
have  herself  instructed  by  that  lady's  faithful  maiden, 
Herrat,  and  she  strove  in  every  way  to  consult  the 
wishes  of  her  people.  Not  a  single  enemy  did  she 
have  throughout  the  broad  realm,  and  every  one  of 
the  twelve  kings,  and  manifold  princes  and  nobles 
who  served  her  at  court,  were  her  friends,  as  she 
knew  full  well. 

Notwithstanding  all  this,  she  never  forgot  her 
woes  nor  the  wrongs  that  had  been  done  her  at 
home.     In  her  heart  of  hearts  she  was  constantly 

recurring  to  the  joys  and  honors  that  had  been  hers 

121 


122 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


in  the  Nibelungen  land,  and  wondering  whether  harm 
would  not  befall  Hagen  because  his  hand  had  wrought 
Siegfried's  death.  "  It  might  well  be  so,"  she  thought 
to  herself,  "if  I  could  bring  him  to  this  land."  One 
night  the  foul  fiend  tempted  her  in  her  dreams. 
She  thought  she  saw  her  brothers  at  King  Etzel's 
court,  and  her  great  delight  at  seeing  her  loving 
Giselher  and  Gemot  was  swallowed  up  in  the  grim 
satisfaction  she  experienced  in  knowing  that  her 
arch-enemy  Hagen  was  of  the  number,  and  that 
he  was  wholly  in  her  power. 

When  she  awoke,  she  found  it  impossible  to 
shake  off  the  impression  made  by  this  dream,  and 
it  haunted  her  by  day  and  by  night.  Amid  her 
gloomy  brood ings,  her  old  aversion  to  having  a 
pagan  for  a  husband  rose  uppermost  in  her  mind, 
and  feeling  that  but  for  Hagen  and  her  brother 
Gunther,  she  had  never  married  King  Etzel,  her 
hatred  grew.  She  now  thought  of  little  else  than 
schemes  of  vengeance,  and  concluded  that  the  time 
had  come  when  she  might  with  impunity  work  her 
will.  Finally  she  determined  to  ask  her  lord  to 
invite  her  brothers  to  visit  her,  knowing  that  only 
thus  could  she  hope  to  lure  Hagen  into  her  snares; 
and  once  when  Etzel  was  caressing  her  in  fond  mood 
she  thus  broached  the  subject : 

"My  well-beloved  lord,  I  have  a  boon  that  I 
would  ask  of  you  to  grant  me  in  token  of  your 
love." 

"Ask  what  you  will,"  spake  the  wealthy  king, — 
and  unsuspecting  was  his  mood, — "nothing  can  be 
greater  than  you  deserve  at  my  hands,  and  who  can 
resist  Kriemhild's  will  ? "  ■ 


kriemhild's  thoughts  of  revenge. 


123 


"You  know  as  well  as  I,"  then  said  the  queen, 
"  that  I  have  friends  of  high  estate.  It  grieves  me 
sorely  that  they  never  visit  me.  To  all  people  I 
must  appear  as  one  without  friends." 

"  Beloved  wife,"  said  King  Etzel,  "  were  not  their 
home  so  far  away,  I  should  invite  hither  to  my  land 
all  whom  you  wTould  gladly  see." 

"Would  you  prove  your  truth,  my  lord,"  said 
she,  rejoiced  to  know  his  will,  "you  would  send 
messengers  at  once  to  Worms,  in  order  to  make 
known  to  my  friends  how  much  I  long  to  see  them. 
Many  a  noble  knight  and  good  would  then  journey 
here  without  delay." 

"  As  you  command  so  let  it  be  done,"  cried  the 
king.  "  You  cannot  desire  to  see  noble  Ute's  sons 
more  than  I  do.  It  has  ever  deeply  grieved  me 
that  they  were  so  far  away  from  us,  and  such 
strangers." 

Forthwith  the  king  summoned  his  minstrels, 
Werbel  and  Schwemmel,  and  gave  them  orders  to 
equip  themselves  and  their  followers  in  a  manner 
worthy  of  the  messengers  of  so  great  a  monarch, 
and  repair  to  Worms  to  invite  the  Burgundian  kings 
and  their  vassals  to  a  grand  high-tide  to  be  held  the 
following  summer  solstice  at  Etzlenburg.  Kriem- 
hild  had  a  private  interview  with  the  minstrels  be- 
fore they  departed,  and  charged  them  with  many 
messages  for  her  friends. 

"Admit  to  no  one,"  said  she,  "  that  you  have  ever 
seen  me  in  sorrowful  mood.  Carry  my  tender  greet- 
ings to  my  kinsfolk;  implore  them  in  my  name  to 
heed  the  king's  behest.  Were  I  a  knight,  I  should 
often  cross  the  Rhine,  so  greatly  do  I  desire  to  see 


124 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


them.  Tell  my  noble  brother  Gemot  that  no  one 
can  love  him  more  than  I,  and  bid  young  Giselher 
remember  that  he  has  never  wronged  me.  To  my 
noble  mother  say  what  honors  surround  me  here; 
and  above  all  things,  let  not  Hagen  of  Tronje  tarry 
behind,  his  lords  will  need  him  who  has  known  the 
way  to  the  Huns  from  childhood  up." 

The  messengers  could  not  in  the  least  conjecture 
why  she  made  such  a  point  of  not  having  Hagen  left 
behind.    Alas!  they  soon  knew  it  to  their  grief. 


TWENTY-FOURTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  THE  MINSTRELS  DELIVERED  KING  ETZEL'S  INVITA- 
TION. 

EBBEL  and  Schwemmel  rode  out  from  the 
land  of  the  Huns  with  four-and-twenty  brave 
knights,  all  in  glittering  array.  They  paused  for  a 
season  at  Bechlaren,  where  they  met  with  much  kind- 
ness. Riidiger,  Gotelind,  and  their  daughter,  charged 
them  with  many  happy  greetings  for  their  friends  in 
Rhineland.  At  Passau,  Werbel,  the  swift,  sought  out 
bishop  Pilgerin.  The  good  old  man  was  overjoyed 
when  they  told  him  of  their  errand  to  the  Rhine.  He 
said  that  it  would  be  a  glad  day  for  him  when  his  eyes 
should  behold  his  sister's  sons,  and  he  showered  his 
gold  freely  upon  the  messengers.  Already  these  had 
been  laden  with  costly  gifts  at  Bechlaren. 

These  brave  minstrels  pricked  safely  through  their 
journey,  Etzel's  powerful  name  protecting  them  from 
the  assaults  of  the  marauding  bands  of  the  countries 
through  which  they  passed.  Within  twelve  days  they 
reached  Worms,  and  word  was  brought  to  Gunther  of 
the  arrival  of  foreign  knights.  The  lord  of  Rhineland 
was  greatly  perplexed  to  know  who  these  new-comers 
might  be.  No  one  could  give  answer  to  his  inquiries 
until  well-informed  Hagen  drew  near,  and  speedily 
recognized  King  Etzel's  messengers.  Kriemhild  had 
doubtless  sent  them,  the  knight  said,  and  for  their 
master's  sake  they  must  be  well  received.    So  orders 

125 


126 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


were  issued  to  make  suitable  arrangements  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  guests,  and  to  lead  them  forth 
into  the  presence  of  the  king.  These  princely  min- 
strels, however,  requested  to  be  permitted  to  change 
their  attire  before  heeding  the  latter  summons,  for 
magnificently  as  they  were  clad,  they  were  unwilling 
to  be  presented  at  court  in  their  traveling  garments. 
They  found  these,  in  fact,  only  worthy  to  bestow  on 
the  needy  at  court. 

When,  finally,  the  messengers  entered  the  hall 
where  King  Gunther  sat  surrounded  by  his  nobles, 
Hagen  sprang  from  his  seat  to  meet  them  and  bring 
them  forward  to  present  them  to  the  king. 

"Welcome,  most  noble  minstrels  and  ye  follow- 
ers of  King  Etzel's  worthy  vassals !  "  cried  King  Gun- 
ther. "  Wherefore  hath  the  king  of  the  Huns  sent 
you  hither  to  the  Burgundian  land?" 

"  My  well-beloved  master  proffers  his  best  services 
to  you,"  responded  Werbel,  "  as  also  does  Kriemhild, 
your  sister.  In  token  of  their  friendship  have  they 
sent  us  hither  to  your  land." 

"  Verily,"  spake  the  host  of  the  Rhine,  "  these 
tidings  rejoice  me.  But  tell  me,  I  pray  you,  how  is 
King  Etzel,  and  how  fares  it  with  Kriemhild,  my 
sister,  in  the  land  of  the  Huns?" 

u  Better  have  crowned  heads  never  enjoyed  their 
lives  than  this  royal  pair,"  was  the  spokesman's  ready 
reply.  "  As  for  your  sister,  our  noble  queen,  she  is 
worshiped  in  our  land  alike  by  monarch  and  by  peo- 
ple, and  she  has  no  wish  ungratifled." 

King  Gunther  was  pleased  with  this  cheering 
intelligence.  Sundry  doubts  which  had  troubled  his 
mind  were  lulled  to  rest  by  it.    Gemot  and  Gisel- 


DELIVERY  OF  KING  ETZEL'S  INVITATION".  127 


her,  who  now  entered  the  hall,  were  overjoyed  at  the 
opportunity  of  hearing  such  good  tidings.  The  latter, 
in  especial,  plied  the  worthy  minstrels  with  manifold 
questions  concerning  Kriemhild.  Schwemmel  deliv- 
ered the  queen's  message,  adding  that  no  words  of  his 
could  give  adequate  expression  to  the  affectionate 
greetings  she  had  charged  him  with.  Then  turning 
to  King  Gunther  he  delivered  King  Etzel's  invitation, 
and  told  how  urgently  Kriemhild  besought  her  dear 
brothers  to  accept  it  in  token  of  their  love  for  her. 
Gunther  marveled  greatly  at  this  invitation,  and,  feel- 
ing that  it  required  especial  consideration,  he  dismissed 
the  guests,  with  a  promise  to  make  known  to  them  his 
answer  upon  the  seventh  day. 

Instead  of  resting,  as  they  had  now  an  opportu- 
nity of  doing,  the  weary  knights  begged  to  be  permit- 
ted to  pay  their  respects  to  dame  Ute.  Giselher  led 
them  into  the  noble  lady's  presence,  and  she  received 
them  with  a  beaming  countenance,  so  rejoiced  was 
she  to  hear  tidings  of  her  child.  They  gave  her,  as 
Kriemhild  had  bidden  them,  only  cheering  words,  and 
made  the  mother's  heart  glad  with  the  loving  greet- 
ings they  bore  her.  But  when  they  told  her  of  the 
invitation  and  besought  her  to  accompany  her  sons, 
she  sorrowfully  shook  her  head,  saying  that  much  as 
she  longed  to  behold  her  daughter,  it  would  be  out  of 
the  question  for  her  to  undertake  so  long  a  journey. 

Meanwhile  King  Gunther  had  assembled  together 
his  brothers  and  all  the  nobles  of  the  realm  to  consult 
with  them  upon  the  propriety  of  accepting  King 
Etzel's  invitation.  All  were  in  favor  of  so  doing- 
except  Hagen  alone, —  his  wrath  kindled  at  the  mere 
mention  of  such  a  thing. 


128 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"  We  have  every  cause  to  fear  Kriemhild,"  said  he, 
"  and  should  he  ever  on  our  guard.  You  surely  have 
not  forgotten  what  was  done  her  here !  When  I 
warned  you  against  letting  her  attain  her  present 
power,  you  said  King  EtzePs  land  was  too  far  distant 
for  intercourse,  and  now  you  talk  of  journeying  to  it 
yourself." 

"  My  sister's  anger  was  wholly  at  an  end  when  she 
left  us,"  rejoined  Gunther,  the  king.  "She  took  a 
kindly  leave  of  us  all  hut  you.  Me  she  kissed  right 
lovingly." 

"  Be  not  deceived,  whatever  these  Hunnish  mes- 
sengers may  say,"  said  Hagen.  "  If  you  put  faith  in 
King  Etzel's  queen,  you  will  lose  with  your  honor 
your  lives." 

"You  may  have  good  reason  to  fear  death  in  the 
Hunnish  realm,  but  did  we  therefore  avoid  our  sister 
we  were  wrong,"  said  Gemot  to  Hagen ;  and  young 
Giselher  added : 

"  Since  you  are  so  conscious  of  guilt,  uncle  Hagen, 
it  were  well  for  you  to  stay  at  home,  only  you  would 
do  well  not  to  expect  others  to  do  so." 

"  Would  that  none  among  you  had  more  fear  than 
I,"  cried  the  knight  of  Tronje,  hotly.  "If  go  you 
must,  I  will  ride  with  you  foremost  into  King  Etzel's 
land." 

"  If  you  will  not  hearken  unto  Hagen's  counsel, 
my  lord,"  suddenly  exclaimed  Rnmold,  the  steward, 
"give  ear,  I  pray  you,  to  a  word  of  warning  from 
your  trusty  Rumold.  Stay  at  home,  I  implore  you, 
and  leave  Kriemhild  to  the  sole  possession  of  King 
Etzel.  Wherefore  should  you  journey  to  a  foreign 
land,  and  endure  all  the  hardships  you  must  encoun- 


DELIVERY  OF  KING  ETZEL'S  INVITATION.  129 


ter  upon  the  way  ?  Nowhere  in  the  world  can  you 
tare  better  than  here.  You  are  safe,  in  these  your 
broad  realms,  from  the  snares  of  your  enemies;  you 
are  clothed  sumptuously  every  day ;  you  eat  excellent 
viands  and  drink  of  the  most  costly  German  wines. 
What  care  you  for  King  Etzel's  gay  high-tide?  You 
can  have  as  much  pastime  as  heart  can  desire  at  home 
among  your  friends.  Decline  this  invitation,  I  en- 
treat you.    This  is  your  Rumold's  advice." 

"No,  indeed  we  will  not  remain  at  home,"  said 
Gemot.  "  Since  my  sister  and  the  mighty  King  Etzel 
honor  us  with  so  friendly  an  invitation,  wherefore 
should  we  not  accept  it?  Let  those  who  desire  not 
the  journey  remain  at  home." 

Upon  this  Rumold  spoke  up  very  promptly,  and 
said  that  he  would  gladly  profit  by  the  privilege  im- 
plied in  the  last  words.  Ortwin  united  in  this  decis- 
ion, as  also  did  many  other  worthy  knights.  They 
hoped  that  the  force  of  their  example  might  induce 
the  others  to  remain  at  home,  and  knew  that  even 
should  this  fail,  it  would  be  well  for  some  trusty 
knights  to  be  left  to  take  care  of  the  land  during  the 
absence  of  its  lords.  King  Gunther  was  as  bent  upon 
accepting  the  invitation  as  were  his  brothers,  and  was 
not  a  little  vexed  with  the  persistent  warnings  given 
him. 

"  Let  not  your  displeasure  prevent  }Tou  from  heark- 
ening unto  what  I  now  must  say,"  said  Hagen,  cut- 
ting short  all  further  parley.  "In  faith  and  truth  I 
warn  you  to  ride  well  armed  into  the  land  of  the 
Huns,  if  you  would  in  safety  go.  Send  for  all  your 
warriors,  for  every  trusty  vassal  and  every  valiant 
friend.    From  all  of  these  I  will  choose  one  thousand 


130 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


of  the  best,  that  you  may  have  nothing  to  fear  from 
Kriemhild's  wiles." 

"  That  counsel  will  I  heed,"  the  king  at  once 
replied. 

Throughout  his  lands  he  dispatched  messengers 
lar  and  wide,  and  ere  long  three  thousand  knights 
or  more  came  proudly  riding  into  Worms.  They 
thought  not  then  of  the  woe  that  must  betide  them, 
and  many  were  the  good  knights  that  the  king 
found  right  willing  to  join  him.  Dankwart,  with 
eighty  warriors,  came  at  his  brother  Hagen's  call  in 
full  knightly  state;  the  well  appointed  band  had 
brought  with  them  harness  and  raiment  sufficient. 
Hardy  Yolker  and  thirty  of  his  men  of  might  came 
also  in  readiness  for  the  journey,  all  clad  in  such  ap- 
parel as  well  a  king  might  wear.  This  Yolker,  be  it 
remembered,  was  a  high-born  warrior,  who  had  many 
good  knights  for  vassals  in  Burgundy.  He  was  a 
minstrel  as  well  as  a  warrior,  and  for  playing  on  the 
viol  or  fiddle,  was  styled  the  fiddler.  From  all  these 
Hagen  chose  one  thousand  knights,  whom  he  knew 
to  be  valiant  men  and  true,  and  whose  worth  he  had 
often  seen  tried  in  grim  battle.  None  could  deny 
their  rare  prowess.  All  who  lacked  suitable  horses 
or  raiment  were  bountifully  supplied. 

Meanwhile  Werbel  and  Schwemmel  were  growing 
sorely  impatient  at  the  long  delay,  and  began  seriously 
to  fear  their  lord's  displeasure.  Gunther  would  have 
given  them  their  answer,  and  dismissed  them  as  soon 
as  his  own  unalterable  decision  was  formed,  but  Hagen 
had  advised  him  not  to  do  so  by  any  means  until  a 
week  before  they  were  ready  to  start  themselves  into 
King  Etzel's  land.    With  all  her  undoubted  thirst  for 


DELIVERY  OF  KING  ETZEL'S  INVITATION.  131 


vengeance,  the  warrior  said,  Kriemhild  would  make 
ill  use  of  any  time  granted  her  to  prepare  for  their 
reception.  Saddles,  shields,  and  all  the  proud  array 
that  each  was  to  bring  into  the  land  of  the  Huns, 
were  finally  prepared  for  many  a  champion,  and  the 
messengers  were  then  summoned  to  court.  Sir  Ger- 
not  acted  as  spokesman. 

"  The  king  will  follow  royal  Etzel's  bidding,"  said 
he.  "Fain  are  we  to  speed  us  to  his  gay  high-tide, 
and  see  our  sister  once  more  ;  she  may  depend  on 
this." 

King  Gunther  then  gave  them  a  permission  which 
had  not  yet  been  granted.  If  they  wished  to  visit 
dame  Brunhild,  he  told  them,  they  might  seek  her 
bower  with  his  free  consent.  Hereupon,  much  to 
the  disappointment  of  the  minstrels,  Sir  Volker  in- 
terposed, knowing  full  well  that  he  was  doing  his 
lady's  pleasure. 

"  Just  now  my  lady  Brunhild  is  not  inclined  to 
receive  strangers,"  quoth  he.  "  Wait  but  till  to-mor- 
row, and  you  shall  see  her." 

But  the  minstrels  had  already  remained  so  long 
that  they  said  they  dare  not  tarry  longer,  greatly  as 
they  were  chagrined  to  miss  seeing  the  noble  queen. 
Then,  in  his  gracious  fashion,  the  king  commanded 
gold  from  his  good  stores  to  be  brought  forth,  spread 
on  massive  bucklers,  to  be  distributed  among  the  mes- 
sengers and  their  attendants.  Giselher,  Gemot,  Gere 
and  Ortwin  also  made  ready  to  shower  rich  gifts  upon 
them,  but  these  dare  not  accept  them,  through  terror 
of  their  lord's  disapproval. 

"Sir  king,"  said  Werbel,  "your  presents  must  re- 
main in  your  country ;  we  durst  not  take  them  with 


132 


ECHOES  FROM .  MIST-LAND. 


us.  Our  king  has  forbidden  us  to  accept  gifts ;  be- 
sides, we  have  little  need." 

The  landlord  of  the  Rhine  was  deeply  chagrined 
that  they  should  refuse  such  gifts  from  his  royal 
store.  Still  he  constrained  them  to  take  a  portion 
of  his  gold  into  Etzel's  land,  for  his  sake.  The 
minstrels  asked  if  they  might  have  an  audience 
with  Queen  Ute  ere  they  set  out,  and  young  Gisel- 
her  promptly  brought  them  into  his  mother's  pres- 
ence. The  lady  sent  word  by  them  to  her  daughter 
that  she  was  overjoyed  to  hear  of  all  her  honors; 
and  she  lavished  her  gold  upon  them,  both  for  the 
sake  of  the  child  she  loved  full  well,  and  also  for 
King  Etzel's  sake.  She  proffered  it'  so  warmly  that 
they  felt  constrained  to  accept. 

Taking  leave  of  every  warrior  and  lady,  the  mes- 
sengers then  rode  away.  Sir  Gemot  sent  with  them, 
as  far  as  Swabia,  an  escort  of  his  knights  to  guard  them 
from  harm.  Thenceforward  the  power  of  Etzel's  name 
insured  them  a  peaceful  journey.  Thus  they  pricked 
onward  with  fiery  speed,  announcing  everywhere  the 
approach  of  thet  Burgundians.  At  the  good  town 
Gran,  King  Etzel  and  his  queen  awaited  them.  When 
the  success  of  the  embassy  was  made  known,  the  king 
was  rejoiced,  while  Kriemhild  swam  in  rapture.  She 
sent  for  the  minstrels  to  her  bower,  and  questioned 
them  closely  as  to  all  that  had  transpired.  Last  of 
all,  she  inquired  what  Hagen  had  said  when  he  heard 
the  tidings. 

"  Little  did  grim  Hagen  utter  but  words  of  gloom," 
was  the  reply.  "  This  journey  to  our  land  he  termed 
a  jaunt  to  death.  Nevertheless,  he  is  coming  with 
your  brothers.    The  valiant  minstrel,  Volker,  agreed 


DELIVERY  OF  KING  ETZEL/S  INVITATION".  133 


also  to  ride  with  them ;  who  else  besides  we  could  not 
surely  learn." 

"  Well  could  I  have  dispensed  with  Volker,"  said 
the  queen;  "Hagen  is  the  one  whom  most  I  desire 
to  see, —  he  is  a  man  of  courage  high." 

Then  Kriemhild  hastened  to  where  King  Etzel 
sat,  and  thus  kindly  did  she  accost  him  : 

"My  dear  lord,  how  pleases  you  the  tidings?  My 
heart's  most  ardent  wishes  shall  now  be  fulfilled." 

"Your  wishes  are  mine,"  the  king  replied ;  "never 
has  my  heart  been  more  joyful  when  it  pleased  my 
own  good  kinsmen  to  hie  them  into  my  land." 

The  king's  officials  bestirred  themselves  to  furnish 
palace  as  well  as  hall  with  fitting  seats  for  the  dear 
guests  now  approaching  to  the  merry  high-tide.  Much 
cause  came  therefrom  for  bitter  weeping. 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  THE  BURGUNDIAN  LORDS  JOURNEYED  TO  THE 
LAND  OF  THE  HUNS. 

VTEVER,  before  were  such  well-appointed  hosts 


-L^  known  to  ride  into  king's  country  as  those 
prepared  by  the  lord  of  the  Rhine  lands  to  accom- 
pany him  to  King  Etzel's  distant  realm.  A  thou- 
sand and  threescore  knights,  besides  nine  thousand 
esquires,  were  appareled  and  equipped  as  became 
the  liegemen  of  their  sovereign  master.  As  their 
equipment  was  being  carried  through  the  palace 
court  at  Worms,  a  venerable  bishop  spake  thus  to 
the  most  noble  dame  Ute : 

"  Our  friends  are  making  ready  to  journey  to  the 
high-tide.    May  God  preserve  them  ! " 

Thereupon  Ute  sent  for  her  sons,  and  she  said : 
"  Far  better  rest  at  home,  ye  daring  heroes.  Last 
night  I  dreamed  of  ghostly  need.     Methought  that 
all  the  birds  in  this  our  realm  were  dead." 

"  Whoso  heedeth  dreams,"  spake  Hagen,  who 
had  followed  his  lords  into  their  mother's  presence, 
"  knoweth  not  how  to  win  honor.  Take  leave,  my 
noble  masters,  and  let  us  forward.  We  shall  ride 
hence  full  gladly  into  King  Etzel's  land." 

Thus  did  Hagen  at  last  indorse  the  journey  which 
soon  he  had  cause  to  bitterly  rue,  and  which  he 
never  would  have  countenanced  but  for  the  scorn 
that  Sir  Gemot  had  so  wantonly  cast  upon  him. 


184 


JOURNEY  OF  THE  BURGUNDIAN  LORDS. 


135 


Bidding  farewell  to  the  mother  queen,  the  knights 
hastened  down  to  the  Rhine-banks,  where  the  boats 
were  floating  ready  to  bear  the  warrior-band  across 
the  stream.  The  grass  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
Rhine  was  dotted  over  with  tents  and  proud  pavil- 
ions. Thus  far  upon  the  journey  did  Queen  Brun- 
hild and  her  ladies  accompany  their  lords,  and  as  it 
was  already  eventide  when  the  spot  was  reached, 
they  rested  here  for  the  night.  When  sound  of 
trumpet  and  flute  at  dawn  of  da}'  aroused  them  from 
their  slumbers,  there  was  unwittingly  spoken  a  last 
farewell. 

Dame  Ute's  noble  sons  had  a  man  at  their  court 
who  was  alike  noble  and  brave.  Rumold  was  his 
name.  Before  the  forces  were  ready  to  start  he  drew 
the  king  aside. 

"  Alas,  for  this  journey  !  "  quoth  he.  "  It  fills 
my  heart  with  grief  that  I  cannot  persuade  you  for 
your  good.  To  whom  do  you  commit  your  lands 
and  your  people?" 

"My  whole  realm  I  confide  to  your  charge,"  re- 
joined the  king.  "  Care  well  for  my  sweet  boy, 
and  do  not  fail  to  see  to  the  comfort  of  my  royal 
wife  and  all  the  noble  ladies  whom  we  leave  be- 
hind. Console,  I  pray  you,  whomsoever  you  find 
weeping.  Harm  can  never  befall  us  at  the  hands 
of  Kriemhild,  King  Etzel's  queen." 

The  steeds  were  standing  ready  for  the  king  and 
his  liegemen.  With  tenderest  kisses  each  gallant 
horseman  took  leave  of  his  lady  who  was  shortly 
doomed  to  bewail  his  loss.  Sobs  and  lamentations 
now  rang  through  the  air ;  the  stoutest  heart  quailed 
with  a  dreary,  dark  foreboding.    Queen  Brunhild 


136 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


stood  holding  her  young  son  by  the  hand ;  nor  could 
she  restrain  herself  at  the  very  last  moment  from 
giving  vent  to  her  overburdened  heart. 

"  Oh,  wherefore  will  you  render  us  both  desolate?" 
wailed  she.    "  Remain  for  love  of  us." 

"Wife,  you  should  not  sorrow  thus  because  of 
this  step  I  take,"  the  king  called  back,  ere  he  rode 
from  sight.  "  Be  of  good  cheer ;  soon  will  we  return 
to  you  again." 

The  bold  lords  of  the  Rhine  rode  forth  in  gal- 
lant splendor  with  their  one  thousand  Mbelungen 
knights ;  and  albeit  faith  was  yet  weak  in  those  days, 
they  had  with  them  a  chaplain.  Men  and  women 
ran  hurrying  10  and  fro  from  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try to  see  them,  and  many  were  the  tears  shed. 
When  the  river  Main  was  reached,  they  followed 
its  banks  through  eastern  Frankland,  which  was 
subject  to  King  Gunther.  Their  steps  were  guided 
by  ITagen  of  Tronje,  who  well  knew  the  route. 
Their  marshal  was  Dankwart,  the  stout  Burgundian 
knight.  As  they  pricked  onward  to  Schwanfeld, 
the  bright  and  lordly  throng  proved  by  their  bearing 
how  well  they  deserved  their  knightly  fame. 

On  the  twelfth  morning  the  Nibelungen  hosts, 
for  so  it  must  be  remembered,  since  their  capture  of 
Siegfried's  land  and  treasures,  the  Burgundians  had 
been  called,  reached  the  Danube.  The  lord  of  Tronje 
was  the  knight  best  trusted  by  them.  This  fear- 
defying  champion  rode  on  a  space  in  advance  of  the 
rest,  alighted  on  the  strand,  and  secured  his  horse 
to  a  tree.  The  river  was  swollen,  and  there  was 
never  a  boat  in  sight.  Many  a  good  knight  sprang 
from  his  saddle,  and  stood  wistfully  eying  the  stream. 


JOURNEY  OF  THE  BURGUNDIAN  LORDS.  137 


"  Good  king  of  the  Rhine,"  cried  Hagen,  "  much 
mischief  may  befall  you  here.  The  tide  is  strong 
and  furious;  many  a  good  knight  may  be  lost  in 
the  attempt  to  cross  the  waters." 

« For  your  valor's  sake,  friend  Hagen,"  began 
the  king,  "  increase  not  our  dismay.  Seek  a  ford 
higher  up  the  stream,  I  implore  you,  where  we  may 
cross  in  safety." 

So  Hagen,  carelessly  observing  that  he  held  not 
his  own  life  so  cheap  as  to  wish  to  leave  it  in  these 
deep  waters,  bid  the  warriors  rest  beside  the  stream 
while  he  sought  a  ferryman  along  the  banks  to  bear 
them  over  into  Gelfrat's  land.  The  sturdy  Aampion 
was  well  armed ;  he  bore  a  glittering  and  mighty 
shield  ;  his  helmet  was  well  tempered,  and  burnished 
bright;  his  keen-edged  broadsword  hung  from  a  bal- 
drick  over  his  stout  coat-of-mail.  In  this  guise  he 
went  in  quest  of  a  ferryman.  Suddenly  he  heard  a 
splashing  of  water,  and  looking  up  discovered  that 
the  sound  came  from  certain  wise  women,  who  were 
bathing  in  the  cool,  clear  stream.  These  were  mer- 
women  of  the  Danube.  They  skimmed  aloof  upon 
the  waters  like  white  swans  when  they  espied  Hagen, 
who  stole  warily  up  and  seized  upon  their  raiment. 
One  of  them,  named  Hadburg,  cried  out  to  him: 

"  Sir  Hagen,  noble  knight,  give  us  back  our  rai- 
ment, and  we  will  tell  you  what  will  betide  you  on 
this  march  to  the  land  of  the  Huns." 

"  Agreed,"  said  Hagen.    "  Let  me  hear." 

"You  do  well  to  ride  into  King  Etzel's  land," 
spake  she.  "  I  pledge  you  my  faith  that  never  have 
such  honors  been  accorded  stranger  knight  in  foreign 
land  as  you  shall  win." 


138 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Well  pleased  with  this  favorable  prophecy,  Hagen 
dallied  not  in  returning  their  raiment.  Hereupon 
they  speedily  donned  their  wondrous  attire,  and  an- 
other of  them,  Siegelind  by  name,  thus  addressed 
deluded  Hagen  : 

"  I  would  warn  you,  Hagen,  son  of  Aldrian.  My 
cousin  has  lied  to  get  her  raiment  back.  Turn  while 
there  is  time  for  safety,  for  yon  noble  knights  are 
bidden  to  the  land  of  the  Huns  only  that  ye  may 
all  perish  there." 

"  Vain  is  your  cheating,"  responded  Hagen  there- 
to. "  Fierce  though  be  the  hatred  one  may  bear,  it 
were  impossible  that  all  of  us  should  be  slain." 

"Yet  so  it  needs  must  be,"  outspake  the  wild 
merwoman.  "  None  of  you  shall  ever  again  behold 
your  own  country,  save  the  king's  chaplain.  He 
alone  shall  return  in  safety  to  Worms.  This  is  well 
known  unto  me." 

"  Such  tidings  as  these  my  masters  would  scorn  to 
hear,"  angrily  rejoined  the  knight  of  Tronje,  frown- 
ing darkly,  for  his  wrath  did  fiercely  swell.  "Now 
show  me  how  this  stream  may  be  crossed,  thou  wise, 
all-knowing  woman." 

Thereupon,  seeing  him  bent  upon  his  ruin,  she 
told  him  that  there  was  a  ferry -house  farther  up  the 
river,  on  the  other  shore,  where  dwelt  a  ferryman, 
and  none  other  besides.  As  the  knight  was  about 
moving  off,  the  first  spokeswoman  called  after 
him  with  still  further  directions.  The  ferryman, 
she  said,  was  a  man  of  fiercest  mood,  and  must 
be  dealt  with  cautiously.  Being  a  friend  of  Sir  Gel- 
frat,  brother  to  the  ruling  margrave,  and  a  great 
lord  in  Bavaria,  he  had  much  power  in  the  land, 


JOURNEY  OF  THE  BURGUtfDIAN  LORDS.  139 


and  it  was  indeed  worth  the  while  of  stranger 
knight  to  win  his  favor.  If  nothing  else  would 
serve  to  bring  him  across  the  river  with  his  boat, 
it  might  be  done  by  Hagen's  announcing  himself 
as  Amelrich,  a  knight  of  birth  and  fame,  whom  a 
late  feud  had  driven  from  the  land.  The  ferryman 
would  make  good  speed,  the  merwoman  said,  when 
once  he  heard  this  name. 

Bowing  his  thanks  to  the  wise  women,  Sir  Ha- 
gen  strode  off  in  gloomy  silence.  He  found  every- 
thing as  they  had  predicted.  The  boatman,  heedless 
of  all  shouting  and  offers  of  gold,  bestirred  himself 
at  the  name  of  Amelrich.  Let  it  be  recorded,  how- 
ever, that  the  shouting  of  this  name  was  accompa- 
nied by  the  act  of  lifting  high  on  the  sword  a  glit- 
tering golden  armlet  of  great  price.  Now,  wealthy 
as  the  ferryman  was,  and  seldom  as  he  deigned  to 
accept  a  fare,  he  was  not  free  from  a  certain  hank- 
ering after  pelf,  and  this  bait  was  alluring.  Never- 
theless, he  waxed  furious  when,  after  rowing  across 
the  stream  with  sinewy  might,  he  found  not  the 
man  whom  he  expected  to  see. 

"Your  name  may  be  Amelrich,"  quoth  he,  "but 
are  not  he  whom  I  expected  to  tind.  Well  know  I 
him,  for  he  is  my  brother.  You  have  deceived  me, 
so  must  remain  on  this  side." 

"  Nay,  say  not  so,  for-  heaven's  sake,"  cried  Hagen, 
springing  into  the  boat,  "  accept  my  gold  in  kindly 
mood,  and  ferry  me  with  my  brave  friends  and  their 
steeds  across  the  river." 

"  That  will  I  never  do,"  was  the  grim  reply. 
"My  good  lords  have  already  too  many  deadly  foes 
around  them,  hence  I  never  put  strangers  into  their 


140 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


land.  If  you  love  your  life,  essay  not  to  cross  this 
stream." 

With  these  words  he  caught  up  an  oar  and  dealt 
such  a  blow  on  the  head  of  his  proud  unbidden  guest 
that  the  hero  staggered  and  sank  on  his  knees.  Such 
wrathful  boatman  had  he  of  Tronje  never  seen,  and 
quickly  recovering  himself,  he  grasped  his  weapon, 
smote  off  the  head  of  this  sturdy  wight  and  cast  him 
overboard.  At  this  moment  a  strong  current  whirled 
the  boat  out  into  the  stream,  and  much  weariness  over- 
came Hagen  ere  he  succeeded  in  turning  it  shore- 
ward. He  rowed  so  stoutly,  indeed,  that  the  strong 
oar  broke  asunder  in  his  hand.  Nothing  daunted,  the 
sturdy  knight  spliced  this  with  a  slender  thong  from 
his  buckler,  and  speedily  reached  the  strand  where 
his  lords  awaited  him.  When  King  Gunther  saw  the 
blood  streaming  from  the  boat,  he  exclaimed: 

"What  have  you  done  with  the  boatman,  friend 
Hagen?  Has  your  powerful  hand  bereft  him  of 
life?" 

"  I  found  the  boat  as  you  see  it  now,  moored  to  a 
drooping  willow,"  replied  Hagen,  promptly ;  "  I  have 
seen  no  ferryman  to-day.  And  so,  you  see,  harm  has 
befallen  no  one  by  my  hand." 

"Ah  !  wroe  is  me ! "  cried  sturdy  Gemot.  "  This 
day  must  I  bewail  my  true  friend's  death.  He  was 
ever  a  ready  steersman ;  but  now  we  tarry  here  be- 
side the  shore,  and  know  not  how  we  may  come 
over." 

"  Ye  sturdy  esquires,"  cried  Hagen,  in  a  loud  voice, 
"  bring  hither  your  gear.  Time  was  when  I  was 
deemed  the  best  steersman  on  the  Rhine,  I  will  pilot 
you  over  to  Gelfrat's  land." 


JOURNEY  OF  THE  BURGUNDIAN  LORDS.  141 

The  bark  was  capacious  and  strong,  it  was  capable 
of  carrying  five  hundred  or  more  with  ease  on  each 
passage,  besides  large  stores  of  valuables.  With  un- 
flagging energy  he  of  Tronje  plied  it  to  and  fro  until 
the  one  thousand  knights,  his  own  sixty  retainers  and 
the  nine  thousand  yeomen  were  safely  ferried  over 
into  the  unknown  land.  In  order  to  expedite  the 
passage,  the  horses  were  made  to  swim  across  the 
Danube.  Some  of  them  were  borne  by  the  tide 
down  the  stream,  but  after  desperate  struggling  all 
finally  succeeded  in  reaching  the  opposite  shore. 

All  the  while  Hagen  was  fiercely  brooding  over 
the  wild  merwoman's  predictions,  which  had  even 
exceeded  his  own  gloomy  forebodings.  Suddenly  his 
eye  fell  on  the  chaplain,  who  alone  of  all  of  them  was 
to  return,  and  turning  on  him  with  wrathful  fury,  he 
hurled  him  from  the  boat.  This  was  when  Gemot, 
Giselher,  and  all  the  lords  of  first  degree  were  on 
board.  One  and  all,  they  remonstrated  with  Hagen, 
but  he  deigned  them  no  reply.  Nay,  he  even  pushed 
the  poor  priest  under  the  water  with  his  oar,  as  he 
swam  after  the  boat,  resolved  that  he  should  die.  But 
the  decrees  of  fate  must  be  fulfilled  ;  the  chaplain 
turned  about  and  made  for  the  shore;  when  his 
strength  failed,  then  God's  hand  helped  him,  we  are 
told.  Finally  he  reached  his  goal,  and  as  Hagen 
watched  him  shake  his  dripping  garments  he  knew 
that  the  wild  merwoman  had  spoken  truth.  From 
this  time  forth  a  grim  reckless  spirit  took  possession 
of  him,  while  his  courage  and  strength  waxed  almost 
to  sublimity.  When  the  last  cargo  was  landed,  he  cut 
the  boat  to  pieces  with  his  mighty  weapon,  and  cast 
the  fragments  into  the  stream. 


142 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"Why  do  you  thus,  brother?"  spake  Dankwart. 
"  How  now  shall  we  fare  over  upon  our  return? " 

"Ay,  there  are  faint  hearts  who  would  fain  use 
the  boat  now  !  "  responded  the  hero  of  Tronje  ;  "  but 
it  is  too  late.  He  who  would  escape  us  now  must 
perish  in  these  waves." 

When  the  king's  chaplain  saw  the  destruction  of 
the  boat  from  the  opposite  shore,  he  shouted  over  to 
Hagen : 

"  Faithless  murderer !  what  has  hardened  your 
heart  against  me,  your  king's  unoffending  chaplain  ?" 

"  Words  need  not  be  wasted  upon  that  score," 
rejoined  Hagen,  "  but  by  my  faith  it  troubles  me 
sore  that  you  have  escaped  my  hands!" 

"  God  be  praised  that  I  have  done  so,"  cried  the 
poor  priest.  "  I  fear  you  little  now,  rest  assured  of 
that.  Go  your  way  to  the  land  of  the  Huns. 
Heaven  forbid  that  you  ever  return  to  the  Rhine ! " 

"I  will  make  amends  for  all  the  wrongs  that 
Hagen,  in  his  frenzy,  has  done  }7ou,"  cried  King 
Gunther  across  the  water  to  his  chaplain,  u  if  ever 
I  return  to  the  Rhine  lands  alive.  Make  your  way 
home,  since  so  it  needs  must  be,  and  carry  my 
truest  greetings  to  my  noble  consort  and  all  other 
friends  who  are  left  behind." 

The  horses  stood  pawing  the  ground,  impatient 
to  press  forward.  Every  man  sprang  into  his  saddle, 
except  the  king's  chaplain,  he  alone  was  compelled 
to  pursue  his  journey  on  foot. 


TWENTY-SIXTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  DANKWART  SLEW  GELFRAT. 

HEN  all  were  ready  to  press  onward,  King 
Gunther  inquired  who  was  able  to  guide 
them  through  the  land,  and  the  dauntless  Volker, 
of  Alzey,  volunteered  his  services.  Hagen  now  felt 
that  the  time  had  come  for  him  to  speak. 

"  Hearken,"  cried  he,  "  unto  what  I  have  to  tell 
yon.  We  shall  never  more  return  to  the  Burgundian 
land.  Two  merwomen  told  me  so  this  morning; 
the  king's  chaplain  alone  would  return,  they  said. 
To  prove  the  falsity  of  this  it  was  that  I  strove  to 
give  him  death.  Now  heed  my  friendly  warning : 
prepare  to  defend  yourselves  to  the  utmost,  for  you 
are  going  to  face  a  powerful  enemy." 

These  tidings  spread  rapidly,  and  the  stoutest 
hearts  quailed  with  dread.  Hagen  added,  moreover, 
the  true  story  of  how  the  boat  came  into  his  posses- 
sion, and  told  his  companions  that  on  the  murdered 
ferryman's  account  they  were  very  liable  to  fall  into 
difficulty  with  Gelfrat  and  Else,  the  margrave  of  Ba- 
varia, and  his  brother.  For  this  reason  he  advised 
them  to  keep  close  together,  and  not  to  ride  rapidly, 
lest  they  be  suspected  of  %ing  from  danger.  This 
counsel  was  strictly  followed,  and  all  day  long  the 
warriors  rode  through  the  Bavarian  land  with  Volker, 
the  bold  tiddler  as  their  leader,  and  with  Hagen  and 

143 


144 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Dankwart  for  their  surer  protection,  commanding  the 
rear  guards. 

Gelfrat,  meanwhile,  had  heard  of  the  death  of 
his  ferryman,  and,  together  with  his  brother  Else, 
had  raised  an  army  of  seven  hundred  armed  men 
and  set  forth  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  The  shades 
of  evening  were  already  beginning  to  fall  when  they 
overtook  King  Gunther's  band.  The  tramp  of  their 
horses'  hoofs  resounded  along  the  highway,  causing 
Dankwart  and  Hagen  to  deem  it  expedient  to  wheel 
around  and  face  them  as  they  drew  near. 

"Who  pursneth  us  on  the  highway?"  exclaimed 
Hagen. 

"  We,  the  lords  of  the  land,  are  in  quest  of  our 
enemy,"  was  Gelfrat's  reply.  "I  know  not  who  has 
slain  my  ferryman.  He  was  a  swift  knight,  and  hath 
done  me  grievous  wrong." 

"  Was  the  ferryman  yours  ?  "  cried  Hagen.  "  His 
death  lies  at  my  door.  He  refused  to  row  us  across 
the  river  and  1  slew  him.  Forsooth,  I  was  sore 
pressed  by  him.  Through  that  grim  boatman  I  well 
nigh  lost  my  life.  I  offered  him  gold  to  row  us 
over,  champion,  to  your  land,  which  so  incensed  him 
that  he  dealt  me  a  mighty  blow  with  his  strong  arm. 
This  roused  my  ire,  and  with  my  trusty  sword  I 
ended  his  life.    I  am  ready  to  answer  for  the  deed." 

"  You  shall  answer  for  it  with  your  life,"  said 
Gelfrat,  rushing  frantically  at  Hagen. 

A  terrible  struggle  between  the  two  ensued,  while 
Else  and  Dankwart  engaged  in  a  fierce  combat. 
Hagen  was  precipitated  from  his  horse  by  a  vigorous 
blow  from  Gelfrat's  lance,  but  he  speedily  recovered 
himself.    With  renewed  fury  he  sprang  upon  his  op- 


HOW  DAXKWART  SLEW  GELFRAT. 


145 


ponent,  who  bad  meanwhile  dismounted,  and  the  con- 
test was  further  continued  on  foot.  Each  combatant 
held  his  ground  nobly,  but  finally  Gelfrat's  blows 
knocked  a  huge  piece  from  Hagen's  shield,  making 
the  sparks  fly  and  nearly  depriving  King  Gunther's 
vassal  of  life.  The  dauntless  knight  was  now  com- 
pelled to  call  upon  his  brother  for  aid,  whereupon 
Dankwart  wheeled  about  and  dealt  Gelfrat  so  power- 
ful a  blow  that  soon  this  Bavarian  margrave  lay 
dying  on  the  ground.  Else  strove  to  avenge  his 
brother's  overthrow,  yet  he  and  his  people  came  to 
grief  in  the  attempt.  More  than  eighty  of  the  Ba- 
varian knights  fell  into  the  clutches  of  grim  death 
through  the  might  of  the  Nibelungen  knights  who 
had  hastened  to  the  rescue  of  their  liege  lords.  His 
brother  slain,  wounded  himself,  nothing  remained  to 
Else  but  to  flee  with  those  of  their  men  who  yet 
remained  alive.  Hagen  and  Dankwart,  with  their 
followers,  pursued  the  fugitives,  sending  after  them 
many  a  deadly  missile.    At  last  Dankwart  exclaimed : 

"  Let  us  now  retrace  our  course.  Our  enemies 
are  dripping  with  blood,  let  them  go.  We  had  bet- 
ter hasten  after  our  friends.  My  words  are  spoken 
in  good  faith." 

When  the  spot  where  the  contest  had  taken  place 
was  regained  Hagen  counted  the  number  of  the  slain, 
and  found  that  while  there  were  at  least  an  hundred 
upon  the  enemy's  side  there  were  but  four  on  theirs. 
The  shields  of  King  Gunther's  vassals  were  wet 
with  gore.  The  clear  moonlight  breaking  through 
the  clouds  displayed  this  to  view. 

"  Make  it  not  known  unto  my  dear  lords  to- 
night, ye  warriors,  what  has  here  transpired,"  cried 


146 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Ilagen.  "  Leave  tliem  free  from  care  until  morning 
dawns." 

When  those  who  had  engaged  in  the  combat  over- 
took their  friends,  many  a  knight  appealed  to  Hagen 
and  Dankwart  to  know  how  soon  they  would  reach  a 
suitable  resting-place. 

"  We  cannot  rest  until  the  day  dawns,"  was  mar- 
shal Dankwart's  reply.  "Wherever  we  may  then 
chance  to  be  we  will  lie  down  in  the  grass." 

Favored  by  the  darkness  of  night,  the  traces  of 
bloody  combat  were  not  detected.  When  the  bright 
beams  of  the  sun  broke  over  the  mountains,  the  king 
became  first  aware  that  there  had  been  strife.  Very 
angrily  he  exclaimed : 

"  How  now,  friend  Hagen !  what  has  happened, 
and  wherefore  have  you  scorned  my  aid?" 

Then  Hagen  made  known  to  him  the  events  al- 
ready recorded,  and  after  this  the  weary  hosts  lay 
them  down  for  a  brief  period  of  rest.  What  precise 
locality  was  chosen  for  this  purpose  has  never  been 
made  known  to  us.  They  arose  refreshed,  sprang 
once  more  into  their  saddles,  and  never  paused  until 
they  reached  Passau.  News  of  the  approach  of  noble 
dame  Ute's  sons  had  preceded  them,  filling  bishop 
Pilgerin's  heart  with  gladness,  for  he  knew  not  of 
the  dangers  which  assailed  them.  Here  the  warriors 
tarried  a  day  and  a  night,  were  tenderly  cared  for  and 
refreshed,  and  then  rode  forward  to  the  boundary  of 
Piidiger's  domains. 

At  this  point  the  weary  wayfarers  found  a  man 
lying  by  the  roadside  asleep,  who  proved  to  be  none 
other  than  marshal  Eckewart,  Kriemhild's  trusty  vas- 
sal.   The  knight  of  Tronje  aroused  the  sleeper  by 


HOW  DANKWART  SLEW  GELFRAT. 


147 


snatching  his  sword  from  the  spot  where  it  was 
thrust  into  the  ground  to  mark  the  boundary  line. 

"  Ah,  woe  is  me  that  I  must  endure  such  shame  ! " 
moaned  Eckewart.  "  Ah,  woe  is  me,  Sir  Riidiger, 
that  I  have  proved  so  unworthy  a  guardian  of  your 
boundary  line !  From  the  day  I  lost  'Siegfried  my 
sorrows  began." 

Taking  pity  on  the  noble  knight's  distress,  Hagen 
returned  his  sword,  and  gave  him  besides  six  gold-red 
clasps.  Eckewart  thanked  him,  and  begged  of  him 
to  turn  back  ere  it  was  too  late. 

"  It  has  not  been  forgotten,"  said  he,  "  that  you 
slew  Siegfried,  and  much  hatred  has  been  stored  up 
against  you  therefore." 

"  May  God  have  us  in  his  keeping ! "  rejoined 
Hagen.  "But  now  the  sole  anxiety  of  these  cham- 
pions is  to  find  good  quarters  for  the  night.  Can 
you  direct  us  to  some  host  who  is  able  to  provide 
for  us?  Our  horses,  as  well  as  ourselves,  are  weary 
with  the  long  journey,  and  we  are  out  of  proven- 
der." 

"I  can  show  you  precisely  the  host  you  need," 
responded  Eckewart.  "He  dwells  not  far  from  here 
and  Riidiger  is  his  name.  No  one  is  better  able 
than  he  to  provide  for  you.  He  is  a  noble  warrior, 
virtue  illumines  his  heart  as  doth  the  May  morn  the 
flowery  mead,  and  when  he  can  serve  heroes  he  is 
joyous  and  well  pleased." 

And  so  it  came  to  pass  that  King  Gunther  asked 
Eckewart  if  he  would  be  kind  enough  to  announce 
them  to  his  good  friend  Rudiger.  Eckewart  hastened 
to  comply,  that  accommodations  might  be  prepared 
for  the  guests.    When  the  good  people  of  Bechlaren 


148 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


saw  the  speedy  approach  of  the  brave  champion, 
they  took  it  for  granted  that  he  had  been  attacked 
by  enemies.  Riidiger  himself  went  out  to  meet  him, 
and  asked  if  any  harm  had  befallen  him. 

"  By  no  means,"  responded  Eckewart.  "  I  have 
been  sent  hither  by  three  kings,  Gunther,  Gemot 
and  Giselher  by  name.  They  proffer  you  their  ser- 
vices, as  do  also  Hagen,  Volker  and  Dankwart.  These 
swift  champions,  with  one  thousand  knights  and  nine 
thousand  esquires,  are  in  need  of  your  hospitality." 

With  beaming  countenance,  Eiidiger  made  known 
his  delight  at  this  announcement.  He  gave  prompt 
orders  that  everything  should  be  put  in  readiness  for 
the  reception  of  the  guests,  having  sumptuous  apart- 
ments prepared  in  his  own  palace  for  the  higher  lords, 
and  tents  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  in- 
ferior vassals.  He  then  commanded  his  best  men  to 
spring  into  their  saddles  and  ride  out  to  meet  the 
honored  guests. 


TWENTY  - SEVENTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  THE  LORDS  WERE  RECEIVED  AT  BECHLAREN. 

HUE  margrave  now  sought  out  his  wife  and 


-J-  daughter,  to  announce  to  them  the  glad  tidings 
that  their  sovereign  lady's  brothers  were  about  to 
become  their  guests.  He  besought  them  to  receive 
these  warriors  of  high  estate  with  the  utmost  court- 
esy, and  authorized  them  to  bestow  the  kiss  of  greet- 
ing upon  the  three  royal  brothers,  as  well  as  upon 
Hagen,  Dank  wart  and  Yolker.  The  ladies  assured 
him  that  he  should  have  every  reason  to  be  content 
with  them,  then  hied  them  to  their  robing-rooms  to 
don  their  choicest  attires. 

Riidiger's  retainers,  meanwhile,  had  found  the 
guests,  and  shown  them  the  way  to  the  palace. 
The  margrave  received  them  most  warmly,  and  in- 
vited the  three  kings,  Hagen,  Dankwart  and  Yolker, 
with  the  knights  of  their  train,  to  enter  his  palace. 
Dankwart  inquired  if  provision  had  been  made  for 
the  Nibelungen  esquires ;  whereupon  Riidiger  assured 
him  that  horses,  as  well  as  men,  would  find  ample 
accommodations.  Such  hospitality  had  seldom  been 
known. 

The  margravine,  with  her  beautiful  daughter, 
surrounded  by  their  brilliant  retinue,  awaited  the 
coming  of  the  guests.  Both  mother  and  daughter 
kissed  the  lords,  as  they  had  been  instructed ;  but 
when  young  Dietelind  came  to  Hagen,  she  involun- 


149 


150 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


tarily  shrank  from  him,  because  of  his  dark,  stern 
looks.  One  glance  from  her  father,  however,  re- 
called her  to  her  duty,  but  she  grew  pale  and  rosy 
by  turns,  so  unconquerable  was  her  dread  as  she 
bestowed  on  the  grim  knight  the  kiss  of  greeting. 

This  ceremony  concluded,  the  margravine  took 
King  Gunther  by  the  hand,  Dietelind  took  Giselher 
and  led  the  way  into  the  great  palace  hall,  while 
Riidiger  followed  with  Gemot.  The  noble  retainers, 
knights  and  ladies,  came  after  them,  and  all  took 
their  seats  while  the  choicest  wines  were  served. 
Many  an  eye  rested  tenderly  upon  Riidiger's  daugh- 
ter, and  she  was  indeed  lovely  to  behold. 

Meanwhile  tables  were  spread  in  the  adjoining 
banqueting  hall,  and  the  guests  were  invited  to  par- 
take of  a  bountiful  feast.  Gotelind,  accompanied  by 
her  ladies,  honored  them  with  her  presence  at  table. 
Her  daughter  she  left  to  tarry  with  the  maidens, 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  land,  causing  regret 
to  many  a  knight.  The  ladies  formed  the  subject  of 
much  discourse  during  the  meal.  Dauntless  Volker 
was  especially  ready  in  introducing  their  names. 

"Most  noble  margrave,"  spake  this  fiddler  good, 
"God  has  dealt  graciously  with  you  in  bestowing 
upon  you  so  beauteous  a  wife  and  daughter.  Were  I 
a  king,  most  gladly  would  I  share  my  throne  with 
your  daughter;  she  appears  so  lovely,  so  noble  and 
good." 

"How  were  it  possible  that  a  king  should  woo 
my  daughter  dear?"  exclaimed  the  margrave;  "we 
are  strangers  here,  my  wife  and  I,  and  have  no 
lands  wherewith  to  dower  her, —  of  what  avail,  then, 
is  her  beauty  ? " 


RECEPTION  OF  THE  LORDS  AT  BECHLAREN.  151 


"  Did  I  think  of  marrying,"  said  Gemot,  "  I 
should  ask  no  other  dower  for  my  bride  than  such 
peerless  beauty." 

"My  young  lord  Giselher  has  thought  of  seeking 
a  bride,"  here  courteously  interposed  Hagen,  "  and 
this  young  margravine  is  of  such  lofty  lineage,  that 
we  vassals  of  the  court  would  be  proud  to  serve 
her,  should  she  share  our  master's  state." 

This  suggestion  was  highly  pleasing  to  all  parties, 
and  Riidiger  declared  that  although  he  had  no 
lands  to  bestow  upon  his  daughter,  he  could  give 
her  as  much  silver  and  gold  as  two  hundred  horses 
could  carry.  The  maiden  was  summoned  forthwith, 
and  asked  if  she  would  have  young  Giselher  for 
her  husband.  As  many  a  maiden  had  been  before, 
she  was  covered  with  confusion  at  the  proposal,  but 
as  soon  as  she  could  command  her  voice  she  modest- 
ly denoted  her  acceptance,  for  this  noble  youth  had 
found  favor  in  her  eyes.  The  young  couple  stood 
surrounded  by  a  circle  of  brave  knights,  and  clasp- 
ing the  maiden  in  his  arms,  Giselher  there  sealed 
his  betrothal.  Then  Riidiger  solemnly  declared  that 
when  the  Burgundians  stopped  at  his  palace  on 
their  return  from  King  Etzel's  court,  Dietelind 
should  be  in  readiness  to  follow  her  husband  to 
his  own  home.  After  this  the  maiden  was  con- 
ducted in  state  from  the  hall,  and  the  guests  retired 
to  rest. 

The  following  morning,  King  Gunther  and  his 
champions  spoke  of  resuming  their  journey,  but  Riidi- 
ger insisted  upon  their  remaining  yet  awhile  with 
him,  assuring  them  that  it  had  been  long  since  he 
had  seen  such  beloved  guests.    Dankwart  expressed 


152 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


his  fears  that  they  would  inconvenience  theii  frost 
by  a  longer  sojourn. 

"  Should  you  remain  a  fortnight,  my  dear  friends," 
cried  Riidiger,  "  I  would  still  have  ample  stores  of 
provisions  for  you  all." 

Thus  it  came  to  be  decided  that  the  champions 
should  tarry  three  days  with  Riidiger.  On  the  fourth 
morning  the  trusty  esquires  led  the  richly  capari- 
soned horses  to  the  palace  door,  and  the  guests 
prepared  to  depart.  The  generous  host  bestowed  his 
parting  gifts  without  stint  upon  his  honored  guests. 
To  King  Gunther  he  gave  a  good  suit  of  armor, 
such  an  one  as  that  brave  champion  might  well  deign 
to  receive,  seldom  as  it  was  his  wont  to  accept 
guerdon;  to  Giselher  he  had  already  given  his  fair 
daughter;  to  Gemot  he  gave  a  valuable  sword,  which 
that  hero  bravely  wielded  in  the  approaching  storms. 
The  margrave's  wife  smilingly  sanctioned  this  gift, 
that  ere  long  served  to  bring  the  good  Riidiger  to 
an  untimely  end. 

Then  dame  Gotelind  turned  sweetly  to  Sir  Ha- 
gen  and  besought  him  to  accept  of  her  some  me- 
mento of  his  visit.  She  bade  him  choose  for  him- 
self whatever  best  pleased  him  in  the  hall.  Hagen 
was  nothing  loth  to  comply. 

"  Of  all  that  I  have  seen,"  began  he,  "  nothing 
pleases  me  better  than  yon  shield  upon  the  wall.  I 
would  gladly  bear  it  with  me  to  the  land  of  the 
Huns." 

With  her  own  white  hands  Gotelind  took  down 
the  shield  from  its  place  and  handed  it  to  the  hero 
of  Tronje.  The  tears  came  into  her  eyes  as  she 
told  him  that  this  shield  had  belonged  to  her  noble 


RECEPTION  OF  THE  LORDS  AT  BECHLAREN.  153 


fether,  Nudung,  who  had  been  slain  in  battle  by 
Wittich„  Hagen  bowed  low  in  acknowledgment  of 
the  honor  thus  accorded  him  by  the  gentle  margra- 
vine. The  shield  was  a  rich  and  costly  one ;  it  was 
thickly  studded  with  regal  gems,  and  it  had  been 
valued  by  competent  judges  at  a  thousand  marks. 
To  Hagen's  brother,  Dankwart,  rich  apuarel  was  pre- 
sented by  Dietelind,  and  he  wore  it  proudly  in  the 
land  of  the  Huns. 

The  swift  champion,  Yolker,  now  came  with  his 
viol,  and  drew  from  it  such  melodious  tones  while 
he  sang  his  touching  farewell  ditty,  that  dame  Gote- 
lind  was  charmed.  Forthwith  the  lady  sent  for  her 
jewel-casket,  and  taking  from,  it  twelve  costly  brace- 
lets, she  pressed  them  into  Volkers  hands,  and  in- 
sisted that  he  should  wear  them  for  her  sake  at 
King  Etzel's  court. 

Riidiger  had  equipped  himself  and  five  hundred 
knights  to  ride  with  his  guests,  for  their  greater 
security,  to  King  Etzel's  land.  Courteous  and  tender 
farewells  were  now  spoken,  and  with  fond  kisses  the 
worthy  host  parted  from  his  loved  wife,  Giselher 
from  his  betrothed.  From  the  palace  windows  the 
ladies  watched  the  warriors  ride  away,  and  they  con- 
soled themselves  for  this  parting  with  thoughts  of 
the  happy  reunion.  Alas!  they  were  destined  to 
meet  never  more  again  in  life. 

The  warriors  pricked  gaily  along  the  Danube 
banks,  and  when  they  reached  King  Etzel's  bound- 
ary line,  Riidiger  sent  forward  messengers  to  an- 
nounce their  coming.  King  Etzel  was  delighted 
with  the  news,  and  hastened  to  impart  it  to  his 
queen. 


154 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"You  must  receive  them  well,  Kriemhild,  my 
wife,"  quoth  he;  "your  dear  brothers  are  coming 
hither  with  great  honors." 

Kriemhild  stood  by  a  window  watching  for  the 
coming  guests,  while  strange  emotions  surged  madly 
through  her  heated  brain.  The  old  sorrow  seemed 
suddenly  uplifted  from  her  heart,  and  an  unnatural, 
fiendish  joy  took  possession  of  this  sorely-tried,  sor- 
row-crazed woman,  as  she  brooded  over  her  plans  of 
revenge. 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  KRIEMHILD  RECEIVED  HAGEtf. 

HEN  the  Nibelungen  lords  entered  the  land, 


*  V  old  Hildebrand,  Dietrich  of  Bern's  master-of- 
arms,  heard  of  it,  and  hastened  to  apprise  his  lord, 
Dietrich  was  sorely  oppressed  at  thought  of  the  evil 
that  was  now  probably  nigh  at  hand,  and  bidding 
his  vassal,  brave  Wolf  hart,  old  Hildebrand's  nephew, 
make  ready  an  escort  of  the  Amelungen  knights, 
he  sallied  forth  with  them  to  greet  and  warn  the 
approaching  guests.  Hagen  saw  him  and  his  knight- 
ly train  from  afar,  recognized  them  immediately, 
and  bid  his  friends  follow  his  example  in  springing 
from  his  horse  and  hastening  forward  to  meet  them. 
The  Amelungens  also  dismounted,  and  all  met  in 
the  most  friendly  manner.  So  soon  as  the  usual 
salutations  were  over,  Dietrich  plunged  forthwith 
into  his  warning,  and  was  surprised  to  find  that 
Riidiger  had  not  suspected  that  of  which  he  himself 
felt  so  well  assured. 

"Kriemhild  still  bewails  the  loss  of  her  Nibe- 
lungen  lord,"  said  he. 

"Long  may  she  weep!"  ejaculated  Hagen,  "Ma- 
ny years  have  rolled  away  since  he  was  slain.  Kriem- 
hild would  do  better  to  bestow  her  love  upon  King 
Etzel.    Siegfried  will  not  return  from  the  grave." 

"So  long  as  Kriemhild  lives,  harm  may  arise 
from  his  death,"  rejoined  the  noble  Dietrich.    "  O 


155 


156 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


thou  consolation  of  the  Nibelungens,"  he  continued, 
turning  to  Gunther,  "beware  of  coming  ill." 

"  "What  have  I  to  fear  ?  "  cried  Gunther.  "  We 
are  invited  hither  by  King  Etzel  himself,  and  my 
sister  Kriemhild  has  long  been  reconciled  to  us. 
The  messengers  brought  us  the  most  loving  greet- 
ings from  her." 

"  Hold  !  "  cried  Hagen, — "  let  Dietrich  speak,  that 
we  may  know  what  we  have  to  fear  from  dame 
Kriemhild." 

Then  the  lords  stepped  aside  with  Dietrich,  who 
thus  continued: 

"  What  further  shall  I  tell  you  ?  Every  morn- 
ing I  hear  Queen  Kriemhild  sob  out  her  woe  to  the 
great  God  in  heaven,  beseeching  him  to  aid  her  in 
avenging  the  brave  Siegfried's  death." 

"  Be  that  as  it  may,"  interposed  the  dauntless 
hero  Volker,  "  it  is  now  too  late  for  us  to  withdraw. 
Nothing  remains  but  for  us  to  press  forward  to 
King  Etzel's  court,  and  bravely  meet  whatever  may 
there  befall  us." 

As  the  heroes  rode  through  the  land,  the  Huns 
crowded  around  to  gaze  upon  them.  Especially 
were  they  eager  to  behold  Hagen,  for  they  had 
heard  much  of  him,  and  how  he  had  slain  dame 
Kriemhild's  first  husband,  Siegfried,  strongest  of 
heroes.  And  truly  these  curious  eyes  rested  upon  a 
great  man  when  they  beheld  Hagen.  Ay ;  despite 
that  one  foul  deed  that  has  stained  his  history,  the 
knight  of  Tronje  had  arisen  to  a  tragic  grandeur. 
We  have  seen  how  helpful,  prompt  and  strong  he 
was  in  serving  his  liege  lords,  what  evidences  he 
gave  of  his  daring  and  loyal  constancy ;  and  now 


HOW  KRIEMHILD  RECEIVED  HAGEN. 


157 


we  are  to  follow  his  heroic  demeanor  through  his 
and  their  direst  need.  Hagen  was  tall,  broad-shoul- 
dered and  commanding  in  appearance;  his  limbs 
were  strong,  his  carriage  magnificent,  bis  look  threat- 
ening; and  grizzled  was  now  his  hair  and  beard. 

According  to  the  queen's  orders,  the  Burgundian 
esquires  were  conducted  to  quarters  at  some  distance 
from  those  prepared  for  the  knights,  that  it  might 
be  difficult  for  their  lords  to  communicate  with 
them.  King  Gunther  commended  his  people  to 
Dankwart,  the  marshal,  bidding  him  see  that  they 
were  suitably  provided  for.  Kriemhild  sallied  forth 
to  meet  her  guests,  took  her  brother  Giselher  by 
the  hand  and  kissed  him ;  upon  the  others  she  did 
not  deign  to  bestow  more  than  a  cold  recognition. 

"After  such  a  reception,"  quoth  Hagen,  "the  swift 
knights  will  indeed  do  well  to  pause  and  take  coun- 
sel within  themselves.  Verily,  the  summons  to  this 
high-tide  did  betoken  ill." 

"  Be  welcome,  I  pray  you,  to  all  who  are  glad 
to  see  you  here!"  exclaimed  Kriemhild.  "No  greet- 
ing is  due  you  from  me,  for  your  friendship's  sake. 
Say,  what  have  you  brought  me  from  Worms,  that  I 
should  bid  you  welcome?" 

"You  would  have  had  us  bring  gifts  with  us?" 
questioned  Hagen,  contemptuously.  "Even  I  am 
rich  enough  to  have  contributed  my  share,  had  I 
thought  of  that." 

"One  thing  you  might  with  justice  have  brought 
me,"  retorted  Kriemhild.  "  Once  more  let  me  ask, 
what  have  you  done  with  the  Nibelungen  hoard? 
That  was  mine,  as  well  you  know,  and  you  should 
have  brought  it  with  you  into  King  Etzel's  land." 


158 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"  By  my  troth,  dame  Kriemhild,"  cried  Hagen, 
"it  has  been  many  a  long  day  since  last  I  saw  the 
Nibelungen  hoard.  That  was  buried  in  the  Rhine 
long  years  ago,  and  there  it  must  remain  until  the 
judgment  day." 

"  I  thought  so,"  resumed  the  queen.  "  For  the 
treasure  that  once  was  mine,  and  for  its  lord,  I  am 
doomed  to  weep  forevermore.  Golden  stores  I  do 
not  need,  for  great  is  now  my  wealth ;  but  I,  poor 
creature,  do  demand  reparation  for  a  murder  and  a 
double  theft." 

Turning  then  to  the  other  champions,  the  queen 
bade  them  confide  their  armor  to  her  for  preserva- 
tion, as  it  was  not  allowable  to  bear  it  with  them 
into  the  hall. 

"  By  my  troth,"  cried  Hagen,  "  that  shall  never 
be.  I  desire  not  such  high  honor,  gracious  queen, 
as  to  have  you  take  charge  of  my  shield,  my  sword 
and  other  armor.  My  father  taught  me  to  guard 
them  myself." 

"Woe,  woe  is  me!"  wailed  Kriemhild  then. 
"  Why  will  not  my  brother  and  Hagen  give  up  their 
shields?  Surely  they  have  been  warned.  Did  I  but 
know  who  has  done  this  thing,  death  should  be  his 
portion." 

"  It  was  1  who  warned  the  noble  lords  and  daunt- 
less Hagen,  their  vassal,"  cried  Dietrich,  wrathfully. 
"  Now  do  your  worst,  thou  devil's  bride !  " 

The  queen  was  covered  with  shame  at  this  re- 
proof, for  she  stood  mortally  in  awe  of  Dietrich,  and 
flashing  one  hasty  glance  at  her  enemies,  she  strode 
silently  away.  Dietrich  and  Hagen  stood  hand  in 
hand,  after  she  had  left  them,  and  discoursed  ear- 


HOW  KRIEMHILD  RECEIVED  HAGEtf. 


159 


nestly  of  the  Nibelungen  need.  King  Etzel  saw 
them,  and  inquired  the  name  of  the  knight  to  whom 
Sir  Dietrich  had  accorded  so  friendly  a  reception. 
One  of  his  attendants  told  him  that  this  was  Hagen 
of  Tronje,  son  of  Aldrian. 

"  Well  knew  I  Aldrian !  "  cried  the  king ;  "  he 
was  my  vassal.  I  made  him  knight,  and  he  won 
great  honors  at  my  court.  Helke,  the  faithful,  thought 
much  of  him.  I  brought  Hagen  as  hostage  into  my 
land  at  the  same  time  with  Walther  of  Spain.  They 
grew  up  together  here.  Hagen  I  sent  home  again, 
Walther  fled  with  fair  Hildegund." 

Thus  did  the  king  muse  aloud  over  events  that 
were  past.  He  rejoiced  that  Hagen  was  once  more 
at  his  court,  remembering  the  services  of  his  youth. 
Now  in  his  riper  age  this  knight  cast  into  cold 
death's  embrace  many  of  the  mighty  king's  friends. 


TWENTY-NINTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  HAGEtf  AND  VOLKER  SAT  BEFORE  KRIEMHILD'S 
HALL. 


HEN  Hagen  ancl  Dietrich  at  last  parted,  the 


*  ▼  former  glancing  over  his  shoulder  saw  Yolker, 
the  fiddler  good,  talking  with  Giselher,  and  bade  him 
join  him.  These  two  chosen  warriors,  each  secure 
in  the  other's  valor  and  fidelity,  crossed  the  court 
together  until  they  reached  that  part  of  the  castle 
where  were  situated  Queen  Kriemhild's  apartments. 
Here  they  seated  themselves  upon  a  bench  before 
the  door.  In  their  glittering  armor  they  presented 
a  princely  appearance,  and  the  Huns  who  saw  them 
stood  gaping  upon  them  like  so  many  wild  creat- 
ures. Kriemhild  beheld  them  from  her  window,  and 
grew  exceedingly  sorrowful  at  sight  of  them.  All  her 
woes  arose  fresh  in  her  mind,  and  she  began  to  weep 
bitterly.  Her  attendants  were  surprised  at  this,  and 
eagerly  inquired  who  had  given  her  cause  of  grief. 

"  This,  Hagen  hath  done,  ye  brave  warriors !  "  she 
cried,  and  proceeded  to  recount  her  grievances. 

"  Speak  only  the  word  of  command,  gracious 
lady,"  was  the  reply,  "  and  all  your  wrongs  shall  be 
avenged." 

"  To  him  will  I  be  forever  thankful  who  will 
wreak  vengeance  for  me  upon  Hagen  ! "  ejaculated 
the  queen.  "  I  will  cast  myself  at  his  feet,  and  grant 
him  whatsoever  he  may  demand  in  recompense." 


160 


HAGEIST  AND  VOLKER  BEFORE  THE  HALL.  161 

Sixty  warriors  armed  forthwith  and  prepared  to 
sally  forth  to  do  their  royal  lady's  bidding.  All  were 
united  in  the  determination  to  slay  both  Hagen  and 
Volker;  but  Kriemhild  detained  them. 

"  Hearken  unto  me,"  quoth  she,  in  angry  mood, 
"and  essay  not  to  contend  with  Hagen  in  such 
scanty  numbers.  Little  do  ye  know  the  knight  of 
Tronje's  power,  and  one  who  sits  beside  him  is 
stronger  far  than  he." 

When  the  knights  heard  these  words,  they  in- 
creased their  numbers  to  four  hundred,  and  then  the 
queen  bade  them  wait  until  she  had  made  ready  to 
accompany  them. 

"  You  shall  hear  from  Hagen's  own  lips,"  said 
she,  "how  grievously  he  hath  wronged  me.  So 
haughty  and  so  arrogant  is  he  that  he  will  disdain 
to  deny  my  charges." 

The  bold  minstrel  espied  the  queen  as  she  de- 
scended the  steps  leading  from  the  castle.  Immedi- 
ately thereupon  he  descried  the  warriors  in  her 
train. 

"Look  yonder,  friend  Hagen,"  quoth  he,  "there 
comes  the  faithless  one  who  has  so  treacherously 
bidden  us  hither.  Never  have  I  beheld  a  queen 
followed  by  so  many  armed  men.  Beneath  their 
silken  suits  I  see  glistening  coats-of-mail,  and  every 
knight  is  heavily  armed.    What  meaneth  this  ? " 

"Well  know  I  that  hatred  of  me  bringeth 
them  hither,"  cried  Hagen,  wrathful ly ;  "yet,  why 
should  I  tremble  before  such  foes  as  these  ?  Tell 
me,  friend  Volker,  will  you  stand  by  me  in  my 
struggle  with  Kriemhild's  men  % " 

"  That  I  will,"  most  heartily  responded  Volker. 


162 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"Should  King  Etzel  himself  appear  at  the  head  of 
his  entire  army,  so  long  as  life  remains  I  would  not 
swerve  one  moment  from  your  side." 

"  Now,  God  in  heaven  reward  you,  noble  Vol- 
ker ! "  exclaimed  Hagen.  "  Knowing  that  you  are 
with  me,  what  care  I  how  many  are  against  me ! " 

As  Kriemhild  drew  near,  Volker  proposed  that 
they  should  arise  from  their  seats,  out  of  respect  to 
her  crown ;  but  Hagen  demurred.  He  besought 
Volker,  for  love  of  him,  to  desist  from  a  hypo- 
critical show  of  respect  which  was  far  from  both 
their  hearts,  and  so  they  kept  their  seats.  Hagen 
laid  his  sword  Balmung,  which  had  once  been  Sieg- 
fried's, across  his  knees  where  it  might  attract  Kriem- 
hild's  attention,  and  Volker  did  the  same  with  his 
viol-bow.  When  Kriemhild  beheld  the  sword,  it  in- 
creased her  fury,  and  this  was  what  Hagen  had 
desired.  This  sword  had  a  golden  hilt,  in  which 
shone  a  precious  jasper,  green  as  grass ;  and  Volker' s 
viol-bow,  be  it  also  mentioned,  was  strong  and 
mighty,  fashioned,  in  many  respects,  like  unto  a 
sword.  The  dauntless  fiddler  drew  nearer  his  friend 
as  the  queen  thus  began  : 

"Now  tell  me,  Sir  Hagen,  who  sent  for  you,  that 
you  made  so  bold  as  to  venture  into  this  land. " 

"No  one  sent  for  me,"  was  the  rejoinder. 
"  Three  knights  were  invited  here,  my  liege  lords ; 
I  am  their  vassal,  and  always  follow  them  on  their 
journeys." 

"  Answer  me  yet  another  question,"  continued 
the  queen.  "  What  have  you  done  to  merit  the 
hatred  I  bear  you?" 

"  Wherefore  further  parley  ?  "  exclaimed  Hagen, 


HAGEN  AND  VOLKER  BEFORE  THE  HALL.  163 


impatiently.  "  This  is  I,  Hagen,  who  slew  Siegfried, 
that  dexterous  warrior.  How  bitterly  he  atoned  for 
dame  Kriemhild's  insults  to  peerless  Brunhild,  my 
liege  lady !  I  make  no  effort  to  deny  it,  powerful 
queen.  Let  who  will  seek  revenge,  man  or  woman ; 
I  have  wrought  you  much  woe,  and  I  would  scorn 
to  lie  about  it." 

"Do  you  hear,  ye  knights,"  hissed  Kriemhild, 
"  how  his  own  words  condemn  him  ?  Now  see  that 
ye  keep  faith  with  me." 

The  warriors  paused,  and  looked  questioningly  at 
one  another.  Many  a  battle  storm  had  they  passed 
through  without  experiencing  a  tithe  of  the  dread 
that  now  filled  their  hearts. 

"  My  rash  promise  I  will  never  keep,"  cried  one. 
"For  no  one's  gold  shall  my  life  be  jeopardized." 

"  That  is  precisely  my  mind,"  spake  another. 
"  What  will  all  the  gold  in  the  world  profit  us  when 
we  lie  weltering  in  our  gore.  This  fiddler  is  invinci- 
ble, I  am  well  aware,  and  Hagen  has  been  known  to 
me  from  his  youth  up.  I  have  seen  him  myself  in 
two-and-twenty  battles,  and  his  hand  hath  sent 
mourning  into  many  a  woman's  heart.  When  yet 
a  boy,  he  won  much  honor  at  this  court  for  his 
bravery;  now  that  his  hair  is  streaked  with  gray, 
his  prowess  has  ripened  to  maturity,  and  grimly 
fierce  is  his  mood.  Besides,  he  carries  the  great 
sword  Balmung,  which  he  came  to  by  no  fair  means." 

Thus  it  was  decided  that  the  proposed  attack 
should  be  abandoned.  Heart-sore  and  angry  the 
queen  turned  and  followed  the  Huns  back  again 
into  the  palace.  So  soon  as  they  had  all  vanished 
from  sight,  bold  Yolker  exclaimed: 


164 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"  We  see  now  for  ourselves  that  we  have  ene- 
mies here,  as  we  were  warned.  Let  us  seek  out  our 
liege  lords,  and  guard  them  from  evil  while  we  can." 

So  they  returned  to  the  place  whence  they  had 
come,  and  found  the  others  still  lingering  about  the 
court. 

"How  long  will  you  stand  here,"  cried  Volker 
aloud,  "  to  be  jostled  about  and  gaped  at  ?  You  would 
do  better  to  seek  audience  with  King  Etzel,  and 
learn  how  he  is  disposed." 

The  brave  champions,  at  these  words,  made  ready 
to  enter  the  palace.  Dietrich  took  King  Gunther 
by  the  hand,  Irnfried  took  Gemot,  Sir  Rudiger  joined 
young  Giselher,  and  thus  paired,  they  made  their 
way  into  the  presence  of  the  king,  followed  by 
Hagen  and  Volker.  These  last  were  henceforth  in- 
separably united,  and  together  they  defied  death. 
When  the  host  of  the  Rhine  was  ushered  into  the 
hall,  King  Etzel  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  hastened 
forward  to  meet  his  honored  guests. 

"Welcome,  Sir  Gunther,"  cried  he,  "and  you, 
Sir  Gemot,  and  this  your  brother,  Giselher.  Most 
welcome  too,  are  these  brave  champions,  Volker,  the 
bold,  and  Sir  Hagen.  It  has  been  my  queen's  most 
earnest  desire  to  see  you  all  here;  right  joyful  must 
be  now  her  mood." 

"  We  have  had  proof  of  that,"  interposed  Hagen. 
"  Believe  me,  mighty  king,  had  I  not  ridden  hither 
with  my  lords,  I  should  have  come  alone,  so  much 
have  I  wished  to  see  you." 

Then  the  noble  king  took  each  beloved  guest  by 
the  hand,  and  led  him  to  a  seat.  He  ordered  mead 
and  wine  to  be  served  in  golden  vessels,  and  over- 


HAGEN  AND  VOLKER  BEFORE  THE  HALL.  165 

whelmed  his  guests  with  pleasant,  friendly  words. 
Never  were  knights  better  received,  and  in  due  time 
a  splendid  banquet  was  made  ready  for  them,  of 
which  the  king  himself  partook  with  them.  That 
was  a  magnificent  palace  where  King  Etzel  dwelt ; 
he  had  built  it  himself,  and  had  had  neither  expense 
nor  labor  spared  upon  it.  There  was  a  series  of 
castles  and  towers,  suites  of  apartments  without 
number,  a  broad  fortress,  and  a  sumptuous  hall. 
This  latter  was  of  an  enormous  size,  being  expressly 
intended  to  accommodate  a  large  number  of  knights. 
Surrounded  by  his  twelve  kings,  and  other  mighty 
vassals,  King  Etzel  here  enjoyed  many  a  social  hour, 
and  here  he  lingered  with  the  Burgundian  heroes 
until  the  evening  was  far  advanced. 


THIRTIETH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  HAGEN  AND  VOLKER  KEPT  GUARD. 

THE  day  was  over,  night  drew  on  apace,  bringing 
with  it  many  apprehensions  to  the  weary  Bur-* 
gundians.  King  Gunther  finally  requested  their  host 
to  have  them  conducted  to  their  sleeping  apartments 
for  the  night.  King  Etzel  promptly  acceded  to  this 
request,  and  parted  from  his  guests  with  loving  words, 
and  promises  for  the  morrow.  On  their  way  through 
the  palace  halls,  the  knights  encountered  many  armed 
Huns,  all  of  whom  crowded  about  them,  whereupon 
Volker  threatened  to  strike  with  his  sword-fiddlebow 
the  first  one  who  impeded  their  progress,  so  that  his 
friends  would  indeed  have  cause  to  lament  over  him. 
And  looking  over  his  shoulder,  Hagen  cried: 

"Make  your  way  back  to  your  own  quarters,  ye 
creatures  of  Kriemhild,  that  for  which  you  thirst  can- 
not be  attained  to-night.  Leave  us  weary  travelers 
to  rest  in  peace,  and  come  again  in  the  morning. 
Never  were  heroes  readier  to  give  satisfaction  than 
you  will  find  us  then." 

The  guests  were  ushered  into  a  broad  hall,  pro- 
vided with  luxurious  beds,  with  coverlets  of  ermine 
and  of  sable,  and  quilts  of  superb  texture.  The 
knights  viewed  all  these  splendors  with  sorrowful 
mien,  and  young  Giselher  exclaimed  : 

"  Woe,  woe  is  me !  Will  ever  my  friends  and  I 
escape  from  these  night  quarters?    My  sister,  who 

166 


HOW  HAGEN  AND  VOLKER  KEPT  GUARD.  167 

lovingly  invited  us  hither,  has  laid  deep  snares  for 
our  destruction,  I  fear,  so  deadly  is  her  hatred." 

"  Banish  your  fears,"  spake  Hagen,  "  I  will  my- 
self be  your  sentry  to-night,  and  guard  you  from 
harm  until  the  morrow  dawns." 

The  weary  heroes  heartily  spoke  their  thanks, 
and  casting  themselves  upon  their  luxurious  couches, 
they  prepared  for  peaceful  slumber, —  all  but  one, 
this  was  bold  Yolker.  He  watched  Hagen,  as  this 
knight  donned  his  stoutest  armor,  and  finally  from 
the  fullness  of  his  heart  he  cried  : 

"  You  will  not  scorn  my  companionship,  Hagen, 
if  I  offer  to  keep  guard  with  you?" 

"  By  no  means,"  rejoined  Hagen,  "  Heaven  reward 
you  for  your  faithful  friendship,  dearest  Yolker!  If 
death  spares  me,  I  will  repay  you  for  it  'one  day." 

Armed  to  the  teeth,  these  two  sallied  forth  to  the 
outer  door  of  the  hall,  there  to  keep  their  wTatch. 
Swift  Yolker  leaned  his  shield  against  the  house 
wall,  and  taking  his  viol  in  his  hand,  he  served  his 
friends  as  well  became  him.  He  seated  himself  up- 
on a  stone,  bolder  fiddler  never  lived,  and  produced 
such  melodious  tones  that  the  homeless  wanderers 
gave  him  heartiest  thanks  in  their  hearts.  First  he 
played  a  martial  strain,  and  the  house  resounded 
with  the  music  of  his  strings ;  his  strength  and  his 
art  were  great.  Sweeter  and  softer  he  then  began 
to  play,  until  many  a  careworn  soul  was  lulled  to 
sleep.  It  was  their  last  lullaby.  When  Yolker  was 
assured  that  all  slept,  he  once  more  took  his  shield 
in  his  hand,  and  now  he  paced  to  and  fro  before 
the  door  with  Hagen. 

About  midnight  a  bana  of  armed  assassins  drew 


168 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


near.  They  had  been  sent  thither  by  Kriemhild, 
with  strict  injunctions  to  single  out  Hagen  and  wreak 
vengeance  upon  him,  without  harming  the  others. 
Yolker  descried  the  glittering  of  their  helmets  in  the 
distance.  Drawing  his  comrade's  attention  thereto,  he 
asked  him  what  course  of  defense  they  had  best  pur- 
sue. Hagen  advised  quietly  awaiting  the  approach 
of  the  wearers  of  the  helmets,  and  then  dealing  such 
sword  blows  upon  these  that  a  second  trial  of  skill 
would  be  impossible.  Meanwhile  the  Huns  had  be- 
come aware  that  the  door  was  guarded.  When  they 
recognized  Volker  as  Hagen's  companion,  they  halted, 
knowing  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  execute  their 
royal  mistress's  orders.  When  the  brave  sentinels 
noticed  the  hesitation  of  their  enemies,  Yolker  wanted 
to  go  forward  and  ask  them  wherefore  they  had  come. 
Hageu  detained  him,  reminding  him  that  thus  might 
arise  a  strife  which  would  end  in  the  door  being  left 
unguarded.  They  remained  at  their  post,  but  Yolker 
could  not  resist  the  impulse  to  exclaim,  derisively : 

"  Ye  armed  vassals  of  Kriemhild,  whither  speed  ye 
through  the  night?  Are  you  in  quest  of  plunder  and 
strife?    If  so,  take  us  along,  that  we  may  aid  you." 

To  this  there  came  no  reply,  whereupon  Yolker 
continued,  in  still  louder  tones : 

"  Fie,  ye  dastardly  wights !  Ye  have  come  out  to 
murder  sleepers,  whom  ye  did  not  dare  attack  when 
they  were  awake." 

More  he  could  not  say,  for  by  this  time  the  as- 
sassins had  vanished  as  silently  as  they  had  come. 
Kriemhild's  heart  sank  within  her  when  she  learned 
of  the  failure  of  this  her  secret  mission,  and  she  set 
to  work  to  mature  new  schemes  of  treachery. 


THIRTY-FIRST  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  THE  LORDS  WENT  TO  CHURCH. 

ANON  the  air  grew  cooler,  a  breeze  began  to 
-i-A_  stir,  and  the  comrades  before  the  door  knew 
that  day  was  about  to  break.  So  they  went  in  to 
awaken  the  sleepers,  and  by  the  time  these  were  fully 
aroused,  morning  light  broke  through  the  hall.  The 
minster  bells  began  to  chime  for  early  mass,  and  the 
.brave  Nibelungen  warriors  made  ready  to  heed  the 
call.  Seeing  them  don  their  gayest  raiment,  Hagen 
cried : 

"Ye  must  take  other  gear,  warriors.  Instead  of 
rosaries,  carry  your  swords  in  your  hands;  instead 
of  jeweled  hats,  place  your  helmets  upon  your  heads ; 
instead  of  silken  shirts,  wear  your  hauberks;  instead 
of  gay  mantles,  your  good  shields.  Well  know  you 
wily  Kriemhild's  mood ;  to-day  must  we  be  ready  for 
conflict.  And  beloved  masters,  moreover  escpires 
and  men,  enter  the  minster  with  earnest  hearts,  and 
bewail  to  the  all-powerful  God  }7ou  r  sorrow  and  your 
utmost  need.  Of  a  surety  you  will  never  hear  mass 
again." 

Thus  the  royal  brothers,  with  their  entire  retinue, 
proceeded  around  to  the  minster.  Before  the  sacred 
precincts  Hagen  bade  them  pause  and  remain  without 
on  the  defensive  until  they  could  gain  some  clue  to 
the  plan  of  action.  Soon  came  King  Etzel  with  his 
beauteous  queen,  followed  by  an  immense  retinue,  all 

169 


170 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


in  gala  attire,  and  much  did  the  wealthy  sovereign 
marvel  at  the  warlike  appearance  of  his  chosen  guests. 
He  inquired  if  any  one  had  attempted  to  harm  them, 
and  assured  them  that  if  such  were  the  case,  the  evil- 
doer should  grievously  atone  for  the  deed. 

"  No  wrong  has  been  offered  us,"  cried  ever-ready 
Hagen,  "but  it  is  the  wont  of  my  lords  at  every  high- 
tide  to  remain  armed  for  three  entire  days." 

Kriemhild  well  knew  that  this  was  false,  but  she 
said  not  a  word,  although  her  eyes  flashed  bitter 
hatred  at  her  arch-enemy.  Powerful  and  frenzied  as 
she  was,  however,  she  would  have  been  unable  to 
work  further  mischief  had  any  one  had  but  the  cour- 
age to  apprise  the  king  of  how  matters  stood. 

To  enter  the  church,  the  queen  had  to  pass  di- 
rectly between  Hagen  and  Volker,  who  had  stationed 
themselves  on  either  side  of  the  door.  Neither  would 
yield  one  inch  to  allow  the  lady  free  entrance,  and 
so,  choking  down  her  fury,  she  forced  her  way  past 
them  rather  than  attract  her  lord's  attention.  After 
this,  all  entered  the  church,  and  mass  was  solemnized. 

When  service  was  over,  King  Etzel  led  the  way 
back  to  the  palace,  in  whose  court  a  grand  tourna- 
ment was  now  held.  Volker  proposed  that  they 
should  joust  together,  each  after  the  manner  most 
approved  in  his  own  land,  and  Etzel  agreed,  think- 
ing it  would  be  a  choice  pastime.  Kriemhild  and 
her  ladies  sat  with  the  king,  watching  the  feats  of 
skill  from  the  palace  windows,  and  the  queen's  dark 
broodings  presented  a  strange  contrast  to  the  joyful 
mood  of  her  lord.  He  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost 
to  testify  his  delight  at  the  presence  of  the  guests 
who  were  bidden  to  his  court,  for  far  other  ends 


HOW  THE  LORDS  WENT  TO  CHURCH.  171 


than  indulging  in  pastime,  and  of  all  present  the 
master  of  the  land  alone  was  in  ignorance  of  this. 

The  Amelungens  were  very  desirous  of  enter- 
ing the  lists;  Sir  Dietrich,  however,  forbade  it.  He 
considered  it  wisest  that  they  should  harbor  their 
strength,  knowing  full  well  that  they  would  need  it. 
Neither  did  Riidiger  wish  his  retainers  to  participate, 
but  he  found,  to  his  regret,  that  it  would  give  offense 
if  they  wholly  withdrew.  The  Danes  were  repre- 
sented by  a  thousand  men,  with  Hawart  at  their  head, 
and  with  them  came  Irnfried  and  his  Thuringians, 
and  many  others.  The  champion  Blodel  also  took 
part  in  the  tiltings,  and  with  three  thousand  chosen 
warriors,  made  a  grand  display.  Thoughts  of  deadly 
hatred  ran  riot  in  dame  Kriemhild's  brain  as  she 
viewed  the  scene  before  her,  and  she  thirsted  for  the 
moment  when  all  might  be  turned  into  stern  reality. 
Spears  flew  to  and  fro,  splinters  were  shattered  from 
the  finest  shields,  the  greatest  noise  and  confusion 
prevailed.  The  noble  chargers  were  dripping  with 
foam,  and  Volker,  observing  to  Hagen  that  the  Huns 
must  lack  courage  to  make  the  apprehended  attack, 
or  surely  they  would  not  have  lost  so  good  an  oppor- 
tunity, was  about  ordering  them  to  be  led  to  the 
stables,  when  there  rode  up  a  gay  cavalier,  most 
gorgeously  attired.  He  was  engaged  in  putting  his 
horse  through  all  manner  of  paces,  and  was  looking 
up  so  sweetly  at  the  ladies  meanwhile  that  Volker 
grew  provoked. 

uAh ! "  cried  he,  "  yon  coxcomb  must  receive  his 
dues  from  my  hand.  What  care  I  for  the  wrath  of 
King  Etzel  or  his  wife?" 

Gunther  strove  to  dissuade  him  from  so  needless 


172 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


a  provocation,  saying  that  lie  thought  it  would  be 
foolish  to  thus  give  cause  for  blame,  and  that  the  first 
attack  ought  to  come  from  the  Huns.  Volker  de- 
sisted for  a  little  while,  but  when  they  were  once 
more  in  the  heat  of  excitement,  he  charged  upon  the 
dashing  Hun  and  pierced  him  with  his  spear.  As  the 
knight  fell  from  his  horse,  great  was  the  wailing  and 
lamentation  among  the  ladies,  and  the  entire  assem- 
blage in  the  court  was  thrown  into  a  state  of  dire 
tumult.  Hagen  hastened  with  sixty~of  his  knights 
to  the  spot,  and  Gunther  also  took  care  that  his 
minstrel  was  not  left  defenseless.  Vowing  vengeance, 
the  Huns  dashed  forward  to  make  the  bold  fiddler 
suffer  for  his  deed,  but  King  Etzel  called  to  them 
from  his  window  to  desist.  Then  the  monarch  went 
down  into  the  court  himself,  snatched  the  sword  from 
the  hand  of  a  relative  of  the  murdered  man  and 
angrily  drove  back  his  subjects.  Volker,  he  said,  had 
wrought  the  deed  accidentally;  his  horse  had  stum- 
bled—  he  had  seen  it  himself — and  whoever  should 
harm  the  brave  fiddler,  or  any  other  of  the  guests, 
should  suffer  for  it.  Proposing  that  further  continu- 
ance of  the  game  should  be  postponed  until  evening, 
the  king  then  led  the  way  himself  into  the  palace 
hail.  Here  a  splendid  banquet  was  spread,  and  as 
the  guests  were  taking  their  seats  at  the  table,  many 
armed  vassals  of  the  court  came  in.  Etzel  was  much 
displeased  with  their  warlike  attire;  and  although  he 
permitted  his  vassals  to  remain  as  they  were,  he  de- 
clared that  he  who  dare  injure  one  of  his  guests 
should  forfeit  his  life.  It  was  long  before  every 
lordly  guest  was  seated,  and  in  the  meanwhile  Kriem- 
hild  took  occasion  to  open  her  heart  to  Dietrich. 


HOW  THE  LORDS  WENT  TO  CHURCH. 


173 


"  Prince  of  Bern,"  she  murmured,  "  to  you  I  turn 
in  deep  disquietude  for  aid  and  counsel.  I  know 
not  what  I  now  shall  do." 

"  Who  touches  the  Nibelungens  need  look  for 
no  aid  from  me,"  thereto  interposed  Dietrich's  man, 
Sir  Hildebrand,  a  knight  of  virtue  well  approved. 

"  It  would  sorely  grieve  me,"  said  she,  "  did  any 
one  suffer  harm  but  Hagen.  He  murdered  Sieg- 
fried, my  well-beloved,  and  whoever  will  single  him 
out  from  the  rest  for  punishment  shall  be  amply  re- 
warded by  me." 

"How  can  that  be  done?"  exclaimed  master 
Hildebrand.  "  Surely  you  must  see  that  if  we  strike 
Hagen  there  will  arise  so  great  a  strife  that  rich 
and  poor  will  alike  taste  death." 

"  Spare  us,  great  queen,  further  parley  on  this 
score,"  hereupon  began  Sir  Dietrich,  in  his  courtliest 
fashion.  "Your  kinsmen  never  wronged  me,  nor 
is  there  just  cause  why  I  should  engage  with  them 
in  deadly  combat.  It  does  little  honor  to  you, 
queen,  that  you  should  seek  to  betray  your  own 
friends  who  were  bidden  here  by  you.  No,  Sieg- 
fried's death  shall  never  be  avenged  by  Dietrich's 
hand." 

When  Kriemhild  found  how  free  from  treacher- 
ous intent  was  good  Sir  Dietrich,  she  betook  herself 
to  Blodel,  her  lord's  brother,  and  implored  him  to 
assist  her  in  her  foul  plot.  At  first  Sir  Blodel  re- 
fused to  give  ear  to  her  entreaties  and  promises  of 
recompense,  but  was  finally  moved  to  compliance 
by  her  assuring  him  that  she  would  not  only  pro- 
tect him  from  Etzel's  wrath,  and  endow  him  with 
lands  and  fortresses,  but  would  also  secure  for  him 


174 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Nud ling's  beauteous  widow  for  his  wife.  Then  he 
called  his  retainers  about  him  and  bade  them  ac- 
company him  to  the  stranger's  quarters. 

Kriemhild  then  joined  her  lord,  and  sat  with 
him  at  table,  amid  all  the  mighty  nobles  who  were 
assembled  together,  pagans  and  christians.  As  she 
could  find  no  other  pretext  for  occasioning  strife,  she 
ordered  her  young  son,  Ortlieb,  to  be  brought  into 
the  hall,  hoping  that  through  his  presence  some  dis- 
pute might  arise.  To  what  more  hideous  deed  could 
revenge  lead  a  woman  ?  So  soon  as  King  Etzel 
espied  his  little  son,  he  joyfully  exclaimed  to  the 
royal  brothers: 

"  See,  my  friends,  this  is  your  sister's  boy  and 
mine,  our  only  son  and  heir.  Should  he  grow  up 
like  his  kinsmen,  he  will  be  strong  and  brave,  and 
he  shall  rule  over  twelve  rich  kingdoms.  Therefore 
you  may  look  for  useful  service  from  young  Ortlieb. 
Now,  dearest  friends,  take  with  you  your  sister's  son 
when  you  journey  back  to  the  Rhine.  Treat  the 
boy  kindly,  as  his  tender  years  require,  and  bring 
him  up  to  all  the  virtues  of  manhood." 

"No  doubt  he  will  be  very  useful  to  my  lords, 
if  he  grow  to  man's  estate,"  sneered  Hagen ;  "  yet 
the  young  prince  looks  not  over  strong.  Methinks  I 
shall  seldom  have  occasion  to  attend  Ortlieb's  court." 

King  Etzel  made  no  reply ;  but  he  eyed  the 
knight  sternly,  for  this  speech  displeased  him.  More- 
over, many  there  were  who  heard  Hagen's  dark 
words  who  would  have  been  glad  to  resent  them 
forthwith ;  but  as  the  king,  deeply  though  he  were 
wounded,  retained  his  composure,  they  were  forced  to 
do  the  same. 


THIRTY  - SECOND  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  BLODEL  FOUGHT  WITH  DANKWART. 

MEANWHILE  Blodel  had  led  the  way  to  the 
hall  where  the  esquires  were  assembled  with 
their  marshal,  Dankwart,  feasting  and  making  merry. 
As  Sir  Blodel  fiercely  strode  up  to  the  table,  Dank- 
wart gave  him  a  friendly  greeting,  and  inquired  the 
purport  of  his  visit. 

"  Greet  me  not,"  cried  Blodel,  "  my  coming  here 
meaneth  death  to  you.  For  your  brother  Hagen's 
foul  murder  of  Siegfried  you  and  many  another  must 
atone." 

"Nay,  say  not  so,  Sir  Blodel,"  replied  Dankwart. 
"  So  soon  must  we  rue  this  visit,  paid  in  faith  and 
honor  ?  I  was  a  mere  youth  when  Siegfried  was  slain; 
how  could  I  have  offended  King  Etzel's  queen?" 

"  I  neither  know  nor  care,"  exclaimed  Blodel. 
"  The  deed  was  done  by  your  friends,  Hagen  and 
Glint  her.  So  ward  ye  well,  ye  poor  strangers,  for 
your  lives  are  pledged  to  Kriemhild." 

"  If  this  be  your  resolve,"  spake  Dankwart, 
"right  sorry  I  am  that  I  plead  with  you." 

With  these  words  he  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed 
so  deft  a  stroke  at  Blodel,  that  the  luckless  knight's 
head  was  severed  from  his  body. 

"Let  that  be  Nudung's  widow's  dower,"  spake 
the  hero,  for  he  had  been  told  of  BlodePs  compact 
with  the  queen. 

175 


176 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


When  Blodel's  men  saw  that  their  master  lay 
dead  upon  the  ground,  they  thronged  about  the 
fierce  strangers,  and  a  desperate  conflict  ensued. 
Dankwart  cheered  on  his  train  to  fiercest  resistance, 
and  those  who  had  no  broadswords  tore  benches 
asunder  and  wildly  seized  upon  chairs  and  stools  to 
use  for  weapons.  The  betrayed  strangers  defended 
themselves  most  bravely,  and  finally  succeeded  in 
driving  out  their  armed  foemen,  five  hundred  or 
more  of  whom  were  left  lifeless  upon  the  floor. 
The  sorry  tidings  were  borne  to  every  Hunnish 
knight,  and  before  King  Etzel  knew  it,  over  two 
thousand  Huns  had  donned  their  armor  and  made 
their  way  to  the  Burgundian  quarters.  They  drew 
up  before  the  building,  a  mighty  army,  but  the 
strangers,  unprepared  though  they  were,  bravely  de- 
fended themselves.  Little,  however,  did  their  valor 
avail  them ;  they  were  finally  overpowered  by  the 
hosts  that  came  thronging  up.  Such  a  wonder  as 
was  rarely  heard  of  before  must  e'en  be  told, —  within 
that  hall  there  soon  lay  lifeless  nine  thousand  esquires 
and  twelve  hardy  knights  of  that  Nibelungen  throng. 
Dankwart  alone  stood  living  in  the  midst  of  his  ene- 
mies. The  din  of  battle  was  hushed,  the  wild  up- 
roar had  ceased,  and  surveying  the  ghastly  floor  over 
his  shoulder,  this  solitary  knight  exclaimed: 

"Alas,  brave  comrades,  that  I  must  see  you  per- 
ish !    Now  stand  I  alone  among  my  foemen." 

Sword  strokes  fell  heavily  about  his  single  per- 
son, yet  he  met  them  all  with  his  good  buckler, 
and  many  a  hero's  lady  did  he  give  cause  for  weep- 
ing, through  his  retaliatory  blows.  Finally,  this  son 
of  Aldrian  grew  faint  and  exhausted  with  the  long 
continued  exercise  of  strength. 


HOW  BLODEL  FOUGHT  WITH  DANKWART.  177 


"  Ah,  woe  is  me ! "  he  cried ;  stand  aside,  ye 
Hunnish  warriors;  let  the  air  cool  me,  storm-weary 
man." 

With  these  words  he  cut  his  way  to  the  door. 
Without,  he  was  attacked  by  a  fresh  relay  of  Huns, 
who,  as  yet,  had  heard  nothing  of  the  wonders  his 
hands  had  wrought.  These,  too,  he  kept  in  abeyance ; 
and  so  dismayed  were  they  by  the  invincible  hero's 
matchless  strength,  that  not  a  man  among  them 
durst  meet  him  sword  to  sword.  Their  darts  they 
showered  at  him,  and  his  shield  was  soon  so  full  of 
these  that  he  could  scarcely  carry  it. 

"  Now,  would  to  God,"  cried  he,  "  that  I  had  a 
messenger  at  hand  to  bear  tidings  to  my  brother 
Hagen  of  how  sorely  I  am  pressed." 

"Nay,  you  shall  bear  your  own  message  when 
we  bring  you  cold  and  dead  to  your  brother,"  re- 
torted the  fierce  Huns.  "  Then  shall  Gunther's  vas- 
sal know  for  himself  the  sting  of  sorrow." 

"  Give  over  your  threats,"  cried  the  warrior ; 
"  stand  farther  from  me,  or  I  will  fill  your  hau- 
berks with  blood.  I  myself  will  report  the  heavy 
tidings  at  yonder  court,  and  lament  our  deadly  wrongs 
to  my  lords." 

Here  the  weight  of  his  heavy  shield  overmastered 
him,  and  he  dropped  it  to  the  ground.  Seeing  him 
thus  defenseless,  his  foemen  rushed  at  him  from 
both  sides ;  but  as  the  wild  boar  fights  its  way 
through  the  dogs  in  the  chase,  so  did  he  serve  his 
enemies.  Many  a  powerful  knight  fell  before  him, 
and  the  ground  beneath  fierce  Hagen's  brother  was 
reeking  with  gore.  Thus  he  fought  his  way  to 
the  palace.    Cup-bearers  and  stewards,  hearing  the 


178 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


fearful  tumult,  dropped  the  choice  drinks  and  dainty 
viands  they  were  bringing  to  the  board. 

"  How  now,  ye  stewards !  "  cried  Dankwart ;  "  your 
duty  it  is  to  bear  these  viands  to  the  table,  and 
bountifully  supply  the  honored  guests, —  mine,  to 
declare  strange  tidings  to  my  lords." 

All  who  dared  confront  him,  as  he  flew  up- 
stairs, met  with  such  fearful  slashes,  that  soon  every 
one  stood  tremblingly  aside  from  that  mighty  broad- 
sword of  his.  At  last  the  hall  was  reached,  and 
bursting  open  the  door,  lie  rushed  in,  sword  in  hand. 
It  was  shortly  after  young  Ortlieb  had  been  pa- 
raded before  the  guests. 


THIRTY-THIRD  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  THE  BURGUNDIANS  FOUGHT  WITH  THE  HUNS. 

T3  ROTHER  Hagen,  you  sit  there  too  long  in 


God  in  heaven  I  bewail  our  dire  misfortune.  Knights 
and  esquires  lie  slain  in  their  quarters." 

"  By  whom  has  this  deed  been  done  ? "  cried  Ha- 


"  By  Sir  BlOdel's  men,"  was  the  rejoinder.  "  Dear- 
ly has  their  lord  himself  paid  for  leading  them  on  to 
slaughter.  With  this  right  hand  I  smote  his  head 
from  off  his  shoulders  at  one  stroke." 

"  You  did  him  honor,"  cried  Hagen ;  "  small  is 
the  evil  when  hero  dies  by  the  hand  of  hero.  But 
who  has  wounded  you,  dear  brother?  Whosoever 
he  may  be,  if  he  be  yet  in  this  land,  he  shall 
forfeit  his  life." 

"  I  am  unscathed,"  rejoined  Dankwart ;  "  the  blood 
you  see  is  that  of  the  Huns  whom  I  have  slain." 

"  Guard  well  the  door,  brother  Dankwart,"  here- 
upon ejaculated  Hagen.  "Let  not  a  single  Hunnish 
knight  cross  the  threshold.  I  myself  will  hold  con- 
verse with  those  within  as  necessity  compels." 

Kriemhild's  sworn  allies  were  madly  incensed 
when  they  found  the  door  guarded  by  the  bold 
champion,  who  had  slain  the  king's  brother.  At 
once  they  began  an  angry  whispering  with  one  an- 
other, conferring  together  on  the  best  course  of  action. 


repose,"  shouted  Dankwart. 


"  To  you  and  to 


gen,  fiercely. 


4 


180 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Hagen  noted  this,  and  with  mutterings  of  uncon- 
querable fury  he  drew  his  sword  Balmung,  turned 
savagely  upon  young  Ortlieb,  and  smote  off  that 
infant's  head,  which  bounded  into  Kriemhild's  lap. 
At  once  there  spread  a  fearful  butchery  among 
the  warriors.  With  uplifted  hand  Hagen  dealt  a 
fatal  stroke  at  young  Ortlieb's  tutor,  and  this  wise 
man's  ghastly  head  rolled  under  the  table.  Next 
the  wrathful  champion  flew  at  Etzel's  chosen  min- 
strel, who  still  sat  holding  his  viol,  and  suddenly 
lopped  off  his  right  hand,  bidding  him  take  that 
for  the  message  he  had  brought  to  Worms. 

"  Alas,  my  hand  ! "  shrieked  Werbel.  "  What 
have  I  done,  Sir  Hagen,  that  you  should  serve  me 
so?  I  came  in  faith  and  honor  into  your  master's 
land.  Ah,  woe  is  me !  How  shall  I  now  make 
music  ? " 

Little  cared  Hagen  for  this  pitiful  lament.  He 
further  pursued  his  course  around  the  banqueting- 
hall  without  deigning  a  word  of  reply,  and  dealt  his 
fearful  death-strokes  wherever  he  went.  His  com- 
rade, Volker,  had  sprung  quickly  from  the  table  at 
the  first  outbreak,  his  deadly  fiddle-bow  clattering 
in  his  hand ;  and  now,  like  the  trump  of  doom, 
sounded  the  harsh,  discordant  notes  of  Gunther's 
minstrel,  fitting  music  to  that  death-dance.  The 
three  royal  brothers  had  also  sprung  from  the  table, 
thinking  to  prevent  a  general  conflict,  but  vain  were 
their  efforts  when  once  Hagen  and  Volker  began  to 
rage  so  furiously.  The  lord  of  Rhineland  himself 
joined  in  the  fray,  dealing  dole  around  him  on  every 
side;  and  sturdy  Gemot  rushed  into  the  thickest  of 
the  fight,   wielding  his  sword,  Sir  Rudiger's  gift, 


THE  BURGUNDIANS'  FIGHT  WITH  THE  HUNS.  181 


with  deadly  skill.  Also,  most  marvelous  deeds  were 
wrought  by  Giselher,  dame  Ute's  youngest  son. 
All  of  the  brave  Nibelungen  knights  distinguished 
themselves,  and  Etzel's  men  stood  stoutly  on  their 
defense.  Wild  shrieks  of  woe  reverberated  through 
the  palace.  Knights  without  strove  to  force  the 
guarded  portal,  in  order  to  aid  their  friends,  but  not 
one  could  succeed  in  passing  Dankwart.  Seeing  this 
valiant  hero's  deadly  peril,  his  brother  Hagen  shouted 
aloud  to  dauntless  Volker: 

"  See  you  how  my  brother  is  beset  by  yonder 
crowd?  Up  and  save  him,  comrade,  or  we  shall  lose 
the  good  knight !  " 

Straight  the  fearless  minstrel  strode  through  the 
hall,  playing  his  harshest  strains,  and  ever  and  anon 
his  keen-edged  sword  fiddle-bow  dealt  destruction 
around  him.  When  the  minstrel  knight  reached 
fearless  Dankwart,  he  shouted  back  to  Hagen  that 
now  the  door  was  more  secure  than  if  a  thousand 
bolts  protected  it.  The  fight  within  waxed  ever 
hotter  and  hotter.  The  host  was  bewildered  with 
horror  and  anguish  at  this  unlooked-for  ending  to 
his  friendly  banquet,  and  even  proud  Kriemhild  was 
affrighted  at  her  hideous  work.  Casting  imploring 
glances  at  Dietrich,  she  cried  : 

"  Help  me,  noble  knight !  If  Hagen  reach  me,  I 
have  death  close  at  hand." 

"  How  can  I  help  you,  fair  queen  ? "  rejoined  Sir 
Dietrich.  "  So  grievous  is  the  wrath  of  Gunther  and 
those  in  his  train,  that  no  life  is  safe.  I  am  power- 
less to  protect  any  one." 

"Nay,  say  not  so,  Sir  Dietrich.  Give  proof  of 
your  heroic  valor,  and  bring  the  king  and  me  hence 


182 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


in  safety,  else  we  shall  surely  die,"  wailed  the  stricken 
woman. 

Moved  by  these  entreaties,  Dietrich  sprang  upon 
the  table,  and  his  voice  resounded  through  the  echo- 
ing hall  like  the  blast  of  a  trumpet.  Gunther  recog- 
nized Dietrich's  voice  as  it  pealed  above  the  clash  and 
tumult,  and  turning,  beheld  the  warrior  beckoning 
with  his  hand.  At  a  signal  from  their  liege  lord, 
the  Nibelungen  warriors  drew  back  their  swords,  and 
hearkened  unto  what  Dietrich  had  to  say.  King 
Gunther  asked  the  chosen  champion  if  any  one  had 
harmed  him,  whereupon  good  Sir  Dietrich  responded 
that  he  wished  to  make  no  complaint ;  all  that  he  de- 
sired was  permission,  in  the  name  of  their  former 
friendship,  to  leave  the  hall  with  the  king  and  queen. 
Fierce  Wolf  hart  sneeringly  derided  this  asking  as  a 
favor  for  what  might  be  won  by  force,  but  Dietrich 
ordered  him  to  hold  his  peace.  Gunther  consented  at 
once  to  the  departure  of  Sir  Dietrich,  with  all  his 
chosen  friends,  as  well  as  the  king  and  queen.  So 
the  champion  of  Bern  passed  safely  from  the  hall, 
with  the  trembling  queen  leaning  on  one  arm  and 
King  Etzel  on  the  other.  Six  hundred  Amelungen 
champions  sped  forth  with  them.  The  noble  mar- 
grave Riidiger  then  exclaimed  : 

"  Tell  me,  King  Gunther,  if  there  be  yet  others 
in  this  hall  whose  presence  you  could  spare,  that 
friendship's  bond  may  remain  unbroken." 

Young  Giselher  well  comprehended  the  import 
of  these  words,  and  expressed  his  heartfelt  desire  that 
there  should  be  peace  and  constant  unity  between 
them.  So  Riidiger  also,  and  his  five  hundred  retain- 
ers, passed  safely  from  the  hall.    A  Hunnish  knight 


THE  BURGUNDIANS'  FIGHT  WITH  THE*  HUNS.  183 

strove  to  take  advantage  of  these  departures,  but  as 
he  was  about  escaping  from  the  hall,  the  furious 
minstrel,  with  one  stroke  of  the  sword  fiddle-bow, 
severed  his  head  from  his  body.  When  the  host  of 
the  land  had  passed  from  out  the  door,  he  turned 
and  cast  a  fierce  glance  upon  Volker. 

"Ah,  woe  is  me!"  the  monarch  cried.  "Woe  is 
me  for  these  fell  strangers!  Oh,  grievous  strait, 
that  all  my  faithful  warriors  lie  dead  before  them ! 
Yonder  fiddler  rages  like  a  wild  boar.  Thank  hea- 
ven that  I  am  safe  from  such  a  fiend !  Forsooth,  ill 
sound  his  measures;  his  strokes  are  bloody  red,  and 
his  strains  bring  death  to  many  a  man.  Never  had 
I  such  a  guest !  " 

While  thus  the  monarch  was  led  wailing  down 
the  stairs,  the  guests  strove  for  deadly  vengeance 
against  their  treacherous  foemen.  Ah,  how  the  val- 
iant Volker  rent  asunder  the  helmets  of  those  who 
ventured  near,  and  wildly  impassioned  was  the  music 
he  played  to  the  hideous  death-dance.  Gunther 
noted  this,  and  cried  to  Hagen  : 

"Hear  you  what  a  measure  Volker  plays  beside 
the  door?" 

"Ay,  yon  is  a  trusty  follower,"  thereto  re- 
sponded Hagen ;  "  never  saw  I  minstrel  stand  so 
lordly  as  he  has  done  this  day.  We  were  always 
faithful  comrades,  he  and  I,  and  if  ever  we  see  Rhine- 
land,  no  chance  shall  ever  sever  us  two." 

Soon  all  the  fierce  Huns  who  had  been  at  the 
festal  board  lay  weltering  in  their  gore.  Hushed 
was  then  the  tumult,  and  each  bold  Burgundian 
knight  laid  aside  his  reeking  sword. 


THIRTY-FOURTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  THE  DEAD  WERE  CAST  FROM  THE  HALL. 

FTEE,  all  their  labor,  the  lords  sat  down  at  last 


to  rest  from  weariness.  Yolker  and  Hagen 
passed  before  the  hall,  and  there  the  haughty  cham- 
pions stood  leaning  upon  their  bucklers,  engaged  in 
earnest  converse.  Young  Giselher  told  his  friends 
that  in  his  opinion  it  was  unwise  to  rest  before  the 
dead  were  borne  from  the  hall.  More  fighting  would 
unquestionably  follow,  he  said,  and  these  fallen  bod- 
ies would  impede  their  action.  This  counsel  was 
swiftly  acted  upon,  and  Hagen  especially  wras  loud 
in  his  praise  of  the  young  master  who  displayed  so 
much  forethought.  Seven  thousand  lifeless  forms 
were  cast  from  out  the  door,  and  rolling  down  the 
stairs  lay  in  heaps  below.  Among  these  was  many 
a  warrior  who  had  not  yet  ceased  to  breathe,  and 
who  under  tender  treatment  might  have  recovered. 
Every  one  of  these  perished  through  the  fall.  Their 
friends  deplored  their  fatal  doom  with  wails  of  sorrow. 

"I  see  now  that  they  have  told  me  truth  who 
called  the  Huns  base  cowrards,"  spake  Yolker,  the 
tiddler.  "  There  they  stand,  wailing  like  women, 
instead  of  tending  their  wounded." 

A  Hunnish  margrave  at  this  moment  saw  a  luck- 
less kinsman  come  tumbling  down  the  stairs,  and 
not  comprehending  the  full  derisive  import  of  these 
words,  he  threw  his  arms  about  him,  hoping  to  bear 
him  away.    At  him  the  fiddler  aimed  a  lance,  which 


184 


THE  DEAD  CAST  EltOM  THE  HALL. 


185 


laid  him  lifeless  on  the  ground.  When  this  was 
seen  by  the  other  Huns,  they  fled  terrified.  Volker 
then  brandished  high  in  the  air  a  spear  which  had 
been  hurled  at  him  by  one  of  their  number,  and 
cast  it  with  gigantic  force  far  beyond  the  crowd 
of  fugitives,  to  the  dismay  of  all.  Many  thousand 
men  were  now  assembled  before  the  house,  with  King 
Etzel  at  their  head.  Whereat  both  Volker  and  Ha- 
gen  contemptuously  accosted  the  monarch : 

"Well  were  it  for  the  people,"  said  Hagen,  u  did 
their  liege  lords  stand  foremost  in  the  light,  as  do 
my  own  redoubtable  masters." 

This  aroused  every  spark  of  knightly  valor  in 
Etzel,  and  he  vigorously  grasped  his  shield.  Dame 
Kriemhild,  however,  entreated  him  to  be  wary,  as- 
suring him  that  he  could  never  cope  with  Hagen. 
The  king  insisted  upon  pressing  forward,  but  his 
warriors  held  him  back  by  force.  Hagen  continued 
to  heap  torrents  of  abuse  upon  both  Kriemhild  and 
her  lord,  causing  the  former  to  weep  with  rage. 

"  Whoever  will  slay  Hageu  of  Tronje,"  cried  she, 
"and  bring  unto  me  his  head,  shall  be  rewarded 
by  me  with  as  much  gold  as  can  be  piled  upon  King 
Etzel's  shield,  as  well  as  with  lands  and  castles." 

"Why  hesitate,  ye  men!"  cried  Volker.  "Never 
have  I  seen  champions  so  faint-hearted.  Surely 
Etzel  can  never  trust  them  more  if  they  fail  him 
now  in  his  direst  need." 

Good  knights  of  many  countries  stood  around, 
and  yet  it  was  long  ere  one  was  willing  to  venture 
upon  so  hazardous  an  exploit.  Sorely  grieved  at 
this  was  the  bold  margrave  Iring,  Hawart's  vassal. 
This  he  proved  by  his  own  valor. 


THIRTY-FIFTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  IRING  WAS  SLAIN. 

"IV  yTY  whole  life  through  have  I  striven  to  win 
_1YJ_  glory,"  cried  the  fearless  Danish  knight, 
aand  I  have  ever  borne  me  bravely  in  the  storm  of 
battle.  So  bring  me  now  my  harness.  I  will  tight 
with  Hagen  —  I  alone." 

"Nay,  I  would  warn  you  against  so  rash  a  deed," 
cried  Hagen,  scornfully.  "You  will  only  prepare 
fresh  grief  for  your  friends  if  you  come.  Let  two 
or  three  of  you  attempt  to  enter  this  hall,  and  I  will 
send  them  headlong  down  the  stairs." 

Stern  Iring  was  not  one  to  be  thus  daunted, 
and  he  began  unhesitatingly  to  equip  himself  after 
knightly  fashion.  At  the  same  time,  bold  Irnfried, 
of  Thuringia,  and  stalwart  Hawart,  the  Dane,  made 
ready  with  a  thousand  men  to  support  Iring  in 
his  design.  This,  daring  Yolker  saw,  and  it  enraged 
him.    Turning  to  his  comrade  Hagen,  he  cried : 

"  See  you  yonder  armed  knights,  friend  Hagen  ? 
This  is  how  Iring  ventures  forth  alone  to  encounter 
you.    Forsooth,  it  ill  becomes  a  knight  to  lie." 

"  Call  me  not  a  liar,"  Iring  said  ;  "  I  have  no 
thought  of  breaking  my  word.  Terrible,  indeed, 
though  Hagen  may  be,  I  shall  bide  by  my  resolve 
to  meet  him  alone." 

With  these  words  he  turned  to  his  friends  and 
kinsmen,  and  insisted  upon  their  allowing  him  to 

186 


HOW  IRING  WAS  SLAIN. 


187 


meet  the  stern  Burgundian  as  he  designed.  Fain 
would  they  have  denied  his  request,  but  they  found 
him  so  athirst  for  honor  that  they  were  obliged 
to  let  him  have  his  way.  A  deadly  strife  ensued 
between  the  two  grim  opponents.  The  valiant  Dan- 
ish knight  held  his  quivering  spear  aloft,  and,  pro- 
tecting himself  well  with  his  shield,  swiftly  mounted 
the  stairs  and  rushed  toward  Hagen ;  each  cast  his 
spear  at  the  other  with  such  overmastering  power, 
that,  piercing  the  strong  bucklers,  the  shafts  new 
to  a  great  distance.  Then  the  rival  champions  drew 
their  swords.  Gigantic  as  was  Hagen's  strength, 
Iring  so  smote  at  him  that  wall  and  tower  re- 
echoed as  from  thunder  blast.  Finding,  however, 
that  even  thus  there  was  small  prospect  of  con- 
quering his  foe,  Iring  suddenly  made  an  assault 
upon  the  warrior  hddler,  thinking  to  speedily  over- 
come him.  Volker  warded  off  all  his  blows,  and 
in  return  dealt  such  that  the  splinters  flew  from 
his  opponent's  shield.  Then  Iring  tried  his  skill  on 
Gunther;  their  blows  fell  thick  as  hail  upon  each 
other,  yet  neither  could  succeed  in  inflicting  a  wound. 
Next  he  flew  at  Gemot,  and  was  so  enraged  at  this 
warrior's  fierce  defense,  that  he  turned  and  slew  four 
Burgundian  knights. 

"Now,  by  heaven,  Sir  Iring,"  cried  young  Gisel- 
her,  whose  wrath  was  thereby  kindled,  "your  life 
shall  pay  the  forfeit  for  this  bloody  work ! " 

So  saying,  he  rushed  at  the  knight  and  felled 
him  to  the  ground.  For  a  moment  every  beholder 
believed  the  Dane  to  be  dead ;  but  he  was  only 
stunned,  and  soon  sprang  to  his  feet,  ready  for  fresh 
action.    He  darted  now  to  the  spot  where  Hagen 


188 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


stood,  and  struck  at  him  with  such  force  that  he 
cleft  that  warrior's  helmet,  and  inflicted  a  severe 
wound  on  his  head.  So  soon  as  Hagen  felt  the 
gash  and  pain,  he  retaliated  upon  the  Dane,  who, 
no  longer  able  to  meet  his  fury,  turned  and  fled 
down  stairs.  Arrived  in  the  midst  of  his  friends, 
I  ring  was  overwhelmed  with  praise,  and  received 
Kriemhild's  heartiest  thanks  for  making  Hagen 
bleed. 

"  Spare  your  thanks  yet  awhile,"  spake  Hagen, 
derisively.  "  There  is  little  yet  to  be  said,  but 
if  your  champion  further  try  his  skill  among  us, 
he  is  indeed  a  brave  man  ! " 

Iring  was  standing  in  the  breeze,  cooling  him 
in  his  mail-coat,  with  his  helmet  uplifted.  Fired 
by  these  words,  he  bade  his  friends  arm  him  anew 
without  delay,  and  bring  him  a  fresh  buckler,  as 
his  was  battered  in  the  fight.  The  foes  met  this 
time  at  the  bottom  of  the  stairs,  and  so  terrific 
was  now  the  wrath  of  Hagen,  that  the  Danish 
knight's  prowess  proved  of  little  avail.  First,  Iring 
was  wounded  with  his  opponent's  sword,  and  ere 
the  luckless  Dane  had  time  to  rally,  Hagen  hurled 
at  him  a  spear,  which  pierced  him  through  the 
head.  Back  among  his  people  Sir  Iring  recoiled, 
and  ere  the}7  could  remove  his  helmet,  they  broke 
the  lance.  Death  was  then  nigh  at  hand.  A  sor- 
row-laden band  crowded  around  the  dying  warrior, 
wailing  their  sad  lament.  Even  Kriemhild  bent 
over  the  prostrate  form  and  wept  aloud.  Then 
the  hero  faintly  said : 

"  Fair  and  noble  lady,  cease  to  grieve  for  me. 
What  avails  your  weeping?    I  must  needs  part 


HOW  IRING  WAS  SLAIN. 


189 


from  life,  for  these  wounds  are  mortal.  And  as 
for  yon,  my  friends,"  he  added,  turning  to  the 
Thuringians  and  Danes,  "seek  not  to  earn  the 
queen's  gold.  With  my  last  breath  I  warn  you 
that  he  who  fights  with  Hagen  must  see  death." 

These  were  Iring's  last  words,  and  as  he  ceased 
to  speak  he  fell  back  dead.  Irnfried,  Hawart,  and 
a  thousand  men,  pressed  wildly  forward  to  avenge 
their  hero's  death.  Their  wrath  was  fierce  and  hot, 
and  as  they  sprang  into  the  midst  of  their  enemies, 
terrific  strokes  fell  thick  on  every  side  from  their 
weapons.  Destruction  alone,  however,  awaited  them. 
Irnfried  engaged  in  mortal  combat  with  Volker, 
and  ere  many  blows  had  been  interchanged,  the 
landgrave  dropped  dead  before  that  fiddler  bold. 
Hawart  closed  with  Hagen ;  their  strife  was  mar- 
velous to  behold,  until  finally  the  Dane  was  laid 
low  by  Sir  Hagen's  hand.  Seeing  their  leaders 
slain,  the  Danes  and  Thuringians  dashed  shrieking 
into  the  hall.  The  Burgundians  permitted  them  to 
enter,  and  then  slew  them  every  one.  Deep  si- 
lence reigned  after  this,  and  the  bold  Burgundian 
knights  laid  down  their  bloody  swords  and  bucklers 
to  pause  awhile  for  rest.  The  unwearied  Volker 
stood  guard  before  the  house,  ready  to  announce 
the  approach  of  any  foeman.  Below  in  the  court 
King  Etzel  wailed  loudly  over  his  misfortunes,  and 
dame  Kriemliild  uplifted  her  voice  with  his.  Sor- 
rowing dames  and  damsels  rent  the  air  with  their 
cries.    Death  seemed  leagued  against  them. 


THIRTY-SIXTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  KRIEMHILD  GAVE  ORDERS  TO  BURN"  THE  HALL. 


KLACE  jour  helmets,"  cried  undaunted  Ha- 


gen,  "  my  comrade  and  I  will  keep  watch 


Many  a  good  champion,  at  these  words,  bared  his 
lofty  brow.  They  seated  themselves,  unwittingly, 
in  their  great  exhaustion,  upon  the  bloody  corpses 
of  those  who  had  died  by  their  hands.  This  was 
noted  by  those  who  watched  them  through  the  win- 
dows, and  it  served  to  increase  the  bitterness  against 
them.  Ere  evening  closed,  the  king  and  queen  had 
mustered  together  twenty  thousand  chosen  Hunnish 
knights,  all  well  prepared  for  combat.  Once  more 
there  arose  a  fearful  strife  against  the  Burgundians, 
which  lasted  until  darkness  surrounded  the  tierce 
opponents.  The  guests  defended  themselves  against 
Etzel's  powerful  men,  as  well  became  good  war- 
riors. Dankwart  in  especial  distinguished  himself, 
much  to  the  astonishment  of  his  foes,  who  thought 
lie  had  perished  long  before.  It  was  on  a  mid- 
summer day  that  this  murderous  fight  took  place. 
The  whole  dark  tragedy  arose  through  Kriemhild's 
determination  to  avenge  her  past  wrongs,  and  yet 
in  all  her  very  darkest  broodings  she  had  never 
dreamed  of  such  sweeping  slaughter.  She  wished 
to  single  out  Hagen  for  vengeance,  and  had  to  learn, 
in  anguish,  that  when  once  the  promptings  of  evil 


over  you. 


190 


KRIEMHILD'S  ORDERS  TO  BURN"  THE  HALL.  191 


are  obeyed,  it  is  impossible  to  control  the  progress 
of  the  work  instigated. 

The  day  was  ended,  and  the  haughty  warriors 
of  Burgundy  began  to  feel  that  they  would  prefer 
death  to  the  slow,  lingering  torture  that  seemed 
to  await  them.  They  yearned  for  peace,  and  begged 
the  Huns  to  bring  King  Etzel  before  the  hall.  Et- 
zel  and  Kriemhild  both  obeyed  the  summons,  and 
the  guests,  all  blood-stained  and  fainting  as  they 
were,  advanced  to  meet  them. 

"What  want  you  of  me?"  asked  the  host  of 
the  land ;  "  surely  you  cannot  hope  for  peace  and 
friendship  after  all  the  mischief  you  have  done 
me.  So  long  as  1  have  life,  you  shall  rue  the 
murder  of  my  kinsman  and  my  son." 

"We  were  compelled  by  grievous  need,"  thereto 
responded  Gunther;  "my  retainers  fell  in  their  quar- 
ters before  your  warriors.  How  did  I  deserve  such 
treatment,  who  came  hither  in  all  faith  as  your 
friend?" 

"Ye  noble  knights  of  Etzel,"  here  interposed 
young  Giselher,  "in  what  had  I  offended  you?  I 
undertook  this  journey  in  kindness  and  friendship." 

"Ay,  this  realm  is  teeming  with  your  kind- 
ness!" came  the  mocking  response.  "Would  that 
you  and  your  bloody  kinsmen  all  had  remained  in 
Worms ! " 

"  Could  we  come  to  terms  of  peace,  even  at  this 
late  moment,"  cried  Sir  Gunther,  "  it  would  be  well 
for  both  parties.  We  home-distant  warriors  little 
merited  our  treacherous  reception." 

"Your  loss  and  mine,"  was  the  host's  sorrowful 
rejoinder,  "are  not  to  be  compared.     The  shame, 


192 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


the  loss,  the  woe  that  I  have  this  day  endured, 
can  never  be  forgotten.  For  this,  not  one  of  you 
shall  escape  hence  alive." 

"  If  you  are  resolved  to  slay  us,  be  speedy,"  cried 
Gemot  to  the  king,  "  and  at  least  grant  us  open 
space  to  defend  ourselves." 

King  Etzel  and  his  warriors  would  have  acceded 
to  this  request,  and  have  permitted  the  strangers  to 
come  down  before  the  palace  gates,  but  Kriemhild 
quickly  prevented  it.  She  angrily  bade  the  Huns 
beware  of  what  they  were  about,  assuring  them  that 
if  once  her  high-born  kinsmen  were  refreshed  by  the 
cool  breeze,  they  would  surely  overcome  the  most 
mighty  hosts.  "  The  world  has  no  such  warriors," 
she  concluded. 

"Ah,  once  beloved  sister  mine,"  spake  young 
Giselher,  "little  did  I  think,  when  you  bade  me 
cross  the  Rhine,  that  you  would  plunge  me  into 
such  woe !  I  was  ever  true  to  you,  and  never  did 
you  wrong.  In  the  name  of  the  love  I  have  borne 
you,  dear  sister,  look  on  us  with  kindness." 

"  Speak  not  to  me  of  kindness,"  cried  the  fren- 
zied queen,  "  to  whom  no  kindness  hath  been 
shown.  Hagen  of  Tronje  wrought  me  most  griev- 
ous wrong  at  home,  and  here  he  slew  my  child, 
and  all  his  friends  must  with  him  pay  the  penalty. 
And  yet,"  she  added,  becoming  softened  for  a  mo- 
moment,  "  we  are  children  of  one  mother,  you,  your 
brethren  and  I.  Fain  would  I  spare  your  lives  if 
you  would  but  yield  up  Hagen  into  my  custody." 

"  God  forbid  !  "  cried  Sir  Gemot,  proudly.  "  Were 
there  a  thousand  of  us,  rather  would  we  all  lie 
dead  than  yield  up  one  trusty  friend." 


KRIEMHILD'S  ORDERS  TO  BURN"  THE  HALL.  193 


Both  Giselher  and  Dank  wart  united  with  Ger- 
not  in  this  refusal,  and  loudly  braved  their  foes 
to  do  their  worst.  Then  Kriemhild  urged  on  her 
men,  who  by  dint  of  spears  and  broadswords,  drove 
into  the  hall  all  who  stood  without,  yet  further 
advantage  they  could  not  gain.  Seeing  this,  Et- 
zel's  frenzied  queen  gave  orders  to  set  fire  to  the 
hall.  A  gentle  breeze  was  beginning  to  stir,  and 
soon  the  building  was  filled  with  flames.  Never 
were  mortals  in  such  dire  distress  as  those  within. 
They  were  tormented  with  the  heat  and  smoke, 
and  many  began  to  complain  of  an  unbearable 
thirst.  Sir  Hagen,  hearing  this,  bade  the  knights 
take  a  draught  of  blood,  assuring  them  that  in  such 
a  heat  it  was  better  than  wine.  Immediately  one 
of  the  warriors  knelt  down  beside  a  corpse,  and 
seizing  a  helmet,  drank  of  the  flowing  blood. 

"Now  God  requite  you,  Hagen,"  cried  he,  "for 
telling  me  of  such  refreshing  drink  ! " 

When  the  others  heard  this,  and  saw  with 
what  delight  he  drank,  many  followed  his  example, 
and  found  their  failing  strength  renewed.  The  fire- 
flakes  fell  thickly  into  the  hall,  but  the  warriors 
warded  them  off  with  their  shields,  and  extinguished 
them  in  the  blood  under  foot.  In  such  extremes  of 
anguish  the  night  wore  away,  the  sleepless  fiddler 
and  his  comrade  Hagen  keeping  watch  before  the 
door.  Toward  morning,  both  of  these  trusty  knights 
betook  themselves  again  into  the  hall,  in  order  that 
the  Huns  might  think  they  all  had  perished. 

When  morning  dawned,  there  came  a  hostile 
train  of  warriors  to  the  hall,  taking  it  for  granted 
that  the  guests  were  all  dead,  and  great  was  their 


194 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


surprise  to  find  six  hundred  living  knights.  It  was 
long  before  Kriemhild  could  be  convinced  that  such 
a  fiery  tempest  had  spared  a  single  head,  and  when 
she  did  realize  it,  she  offered  the  Huns  golden 
treasures  beyond  compare,  if  they  would  complete 
the  destruction  of  her  enemies.  And  now  the  weary 
warriors  were  greeted  with  a  shower  of  deadly  mis- 
siles, that  robbed  full  many  an  one  of  life.  Twelve 
hundred  Hunnish  knights  after  this  strove  to  force 
the  fatal  entrance,  but  although  they  slew  many  of 
the  strangers,  they  were  soon  laid  low  themselves, 
every  one. 


THIRTY  - SEVENTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  MARGRAVE  RUDIGER  WAS  SLAIN. 

THE  strangers  had  fought  as  well  befitted  their 
fame,  of  this  there  was  dolorous  evidence.  So 
thought  the  faithful  Riidiger  when  he  entered  the 
courtyard,  and  he  wept  at  the  woe  that  surrounded 
him  on  every  side.  Longing  for  peace,  he  sent  for 
good  Sir  Dietrich,  that  together  they  might  change 
the  king's  intent ;  but  Dietrich  for  answer  sent 
him  word  that  Etzel  was  now  too  much  enraged  to 
listen  to  any  cessation  of  hostilities.  A  Hunnish 
knight  saw  Riidiger  standing  there  with  tearful  eyes, 
and  he  pointed  him  out  to  Kriemhild,  saying  aloud 
that  he  deemed  it  base  ingratitude  and  cowardice 
in  one  upon  whom  the  monarch  of  the  land  had 
conferred  so  many  honors  not  to  have  struck  one 
knightly  blow  in  all  the  battle.  In  angry  mood  the 
faithful  warrior  turned  and  dealt  the  fault-finder  a 
blow  that  laid  him  dead  at  his  feet. 

"  Away  with  you,  base  scoundrel ! "  spake  the 
good  margrave.  "  I  have  sorrow  and  heaviness 
enough  without  being  reviled  by  such  as  you  for 
not  fighting.  How  could  I  have  uplifted  my  hand 
against  those  whom  I  myself  guided  into  this  realm?" 

"What  have  you  done,  noble  Riidiger?"  cried 
King  Etzel,  reproachfully.    "We  have  dead  enough 
around  us  without  thus  increasing  their  numbers." 
"  Yon  fellow  provoked  me  beyond    reason,  I 

195 


196 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


own,"  rejoined  Riidiger.  "He  twitted  me  with  the 
favors  your  hand  has  showered  upon  me  and  re- 
proached me  with  cowardice." 

Kriemhild,  too,  deeply  lamented  what  had  be- 
fallen the  luckless  Hun  through  the  hero's  anger. 
She  asked  Riidiger  wherein  she  had  deserved  that 
lie  should  increase  her  anguish,  and  reminded  him 
of  the  homage  he  had  sworn  her  when  he  bore  King 
Etzel's  suite  to  the  Rhine. 

"  You  said  you  would  serve  me  to  your  dying 
day,"  said  she;  "never  can  I  so  deeply  need  your 
aid  as  now." 

"  True  indeed  are  your  words,  right  noble  lady," 
responded  the  margrave.  "I  pledged  to  you  my 
life,  but  not  my  soul.  I  brought  the  princes  hither, 
and  dare  not  harm  them  now." 

"Remember,  Riidiger,"  continued  the  queen,  "the 
oath  you  made  me  that  you  would  take  vengeance 
on  whomsoever  should  wrong  me." 

With  this,  both  king  and  queen  approached  the 
warrior  and  piteously  entreated  him  to  aid  them. 
The  good  margrave  was  overcome  by  his  emotions, 
and  thus  in  anguish  cried : 

"  Woe  is  me,  the  God-forsaken,  that  I  have  lived 
to  see  this  day !  Shall  I  forget  my  honor  ?  Shall 
1  be  faithless  to  the  virtue  and  fidelity  with  which 
God  has  endowed  me  ?  Woe  is  me  that  death  comes 
not  to  my  rescue !  Whichever  part  I  take,  I  must 
needs  forsake  good  and  do  evil.  Should  I  side  with 
neither,  the  whole  world  will  blame  me.  May  the 
author  of  my  being  guide  me  aright ! " 

King  Etzel  and  his  queen  redoubled  their  en- 
treaties, and  the  gentle  margrave  in  reply  implored 


HOW  MARGRAVE  RUDIGER  WAS  SLAIN".  197 


his  liege  lord  to  take  back  all  his  possessions  and 
leave  him  free  to  act  in  accordance  with  the  dictates 
of  his  conscience.  He  said  that  he  would  rather 
journey  forth  into  distant  realms  with  his  wife  and 
daughter,  a  homeless  wanderer,  than  be  dishonored 
by  entering  into  such  a  hateful  strife.  Thereto  the 
king  told  him  that  knightly  succor  was  needed,  not 
the  return  of  gifts,  and  he  promised  the  good  Riidi- 
ger  to  give  him  even  half  his  royal  kingdom  if  he 
would  wreak  vengeance  on  the  dread  foemen  of  the 
land. 

"  How  can  I  harm  them  ? "  spake  the  blameless 
margrave.  "  Home  to  my  castle  I  invited  the  high- 
born warriors;  as  guests  I  took  them  in,  set  before 
them  viands  and  drink  at  my  table,  and  gave  them 
of  my  choicest  gifts.  How  can  I  strike  them  dead  ? 
Let  the  people  deem  me  dastard.  When  did  I  ever 
before  refuse  my  service  ?  No,  no !  It  is  to  ancient 
bonds,  methinks,  and  former  favors  we  should  cling. 
I  have  served  the  noble  princes  and  their  followers; 
should  I  now  meet  them  in  mortal  combat,  I  must 
needs  rue  the  friendship  that  united  us.  To  young 
Giselher  I  gave  my  daughter,  believing  that  the  maid- 
en could  find  no  fitter  mate.  Never  saw  I  young 
prince  so  brave  and  virtue-laden  as  he." 

But  Kriemhild  implored  him  without  ceasing  to 
have  pity  on  her  anguish,  and  after  long  struggles 
the  knight  of  Bechlaren,  commending  his  wife  and 
daughter  to  the  mercy  of  both  king  and  queen, 
yielded. 

"  I  gave  my  word,  and  I  will  keep  it  well,"  said 
he.    "  Alas  for  my  friends  whom  I  must  slay ! " 
With  this  he  began  forthwith  to  muster  his  band 


198 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


of  heroes.  Speedily  the  attendants  caught  up  shields, 
helmets  and  glittering  harness,  and  ere  long  Rudiger 
and  five  hundred  of  his  men  were  armed,  together 
with  twelve  knights  who  hoped  to  win  renown  in 
the  storm  of  battle.  Young  Giselher  descried  his 
lady's  father  advancing  at  the  head  of  an  armed  host 
in  battle  array.  lie  wondered  what  the  meaning  of 
this  could  be,  yet  concluded  that  no  action  of  the 
noble  margrave's  could  mean  ought  but  what  was 
just  and  right. 

"  Happy  am  I  to  have  such  friends ! "  he  began. 
"For  my  lady's  sake,  help  is  nigh  at  hand." 

"  You  take  comfort  too  easily,"  spake  the  fiddler 
good  and  true.  "When  saw  you  warriors  advance 
for  friendly  intent  with  laced  helmets  on  their  heads 
and  naked  swords  in  their  hands?" 

Before  Volkcr  had  ceased  speaking,  the  noble 
Hudiger  was  close  by  the  door.  His  well-tried  shield 
he  laid  at  his  feet,  but  he  neither  proffered  service 
nor  made  friendly  greeting.  To  those  within,  he 
shouted : 

"  Ye  brave  Nibelungens,  stand  upon  your  defense. 
Fain  would  I  bide  by  our  bond  of  friendship,  yet  I 
must  needs  become  your  foe." 

The  sorely  oppressed  warriors  were  filled  with 
anguish  at  hearing  these  words.  Not  a  man  among 
them  but  sorrowed  that  a  friend  should  turn  against 
them  when  they  had  suffered  so  much  from  foes. 

"  God  forbid  !  "  cried  Gunther.  "  It  cannot  be 
that  you,  in  whom  we  trusted,  can  prove  faithless 
in  such  an  hour  as  this ! " 

"It  is  too  late  to  withdraw,"  said  Rudiger.  "I 
have  given  my  word  and  must  fight  with  you.  Fain 


HOW  MARGRAVE  RUDIGER  WAS  SLAIN.  199 


would  I  aid  you,  yet  dare  not  encounter  the  reproach 
and  shame." 

"Think  not  of  that,  good  Riidiger,"  said  Gemot. 
"  If  only  you  get  us  hence  alive,  you  shall  be  so 
amply  rewarded  for  all  your  friendship  that  you 
need  not  think  of  shame." 

"  Would  to  God,  Sir  Gemot,"  answered  Riidiger, 
"  that  you  were  safe  in  Rhineland  and  that  I  were 
dead!    Then  were  my  honor  rescued." 

"Here  is  the  sword  you  gave  me  to  use  against 
my  enemies,"  cried  Gemot.  "  It  has  never  failed 
me  in  my  need.  Your  death  I  should  sorely  rue, 
and  yet,  if  you  turn  against  my  friends,  with  this 
same  sword  I  must  take  your  life." 

"  Would  that  I  were  not  forced  to  be  your  foe ! " 
were  the  words  now  wrung  from  the  noble  mar- 
grave's tortured  heart. 

"  Why  do  you  thus,  Sir  Riidiger  ? "  cried  Gisel- 
her.  "  My  friends  here  all  love  you,  as  do  I.  You 
do  ill  to  widow  your  peerless  daughter." 

Then  the  blameless  margrave  most  touchingly 
commended  his  daughter  to  young  Giselher's  pro- 
tection in  case  it  should  be  the  will  of  God  for  the 
Burgundians  to  escape  thence  in  safety,  but  Giselher 
replied  sadly  that  if  his  kinsmen  should  perish  by 
the  father's  hand,  the  bond  with  the  daughter  must 
be  at  an  end. 

"  Then  God  have  mercy  upon  us ! "  said  the  val- 
iant margrave. 

At  once  they  raised  their  shields  and  made  ready 
for  combat.    Thereat  Sir  Hagen  cried  aloud: 

"  Tarry  yet  awhile,  right  noble  Riidiger,  I  am 
beset  with  grievous  need.    The  shield  that  dame 


200 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


Gotelind  gave  me  is  hewn  to  pieces.  Would  that 
I  might  defend  me  in  the  coming  fight  with  such 
a  buckler  as  yours  ! " 

"  You  shall  have  this  of  mine,"  was  Riidiger's 
reply,  despite  Kriemhild's  ire.  "  There,  take  it ! 
May  you  bear  it  well  and  live  to  bring  it  with  you 
to  the  Khine!" 

Stern  as  was  Hagen,  he  melted  at  this  gift,  and 
the  eyes  of  many  a  champion  tilled  with  scalding 
tears.  One  and  all  mourned  that  they  must  fight 
with  one  who  was  capable  of  such  generosity  on  the 
eve  of  battle,  and  Hagen  began  loudly  to  extol  the 
good  Riidiger. 

"Your  like  will  never  appear  on  earth  again," 
cried  he.  "May  God  protect  your  virtue!  Alas 
that  we  must  do  battle  one  against  the  other!" 

"Ay,  it  grieves  me  to  the  heart,"  said  Riidiger. 

Then  Hagen  made  a  solemn  vow  that  in  return 
for  Riidiger's  gift  his  hand  would  never  touch  the 
noble  margrave  in  the  fight.  Riidiger  bowed  low 
in  acknowledgment  of  this,  and  those  around  wept 
aloud.  When  Volker  heard  the  compact  which  his 
comrade  Hagen  had  made,  he  begged  Riidiger  to 
accept  the  same  from  him. 

"  Behold  these  bracelets ! "  quoth  the  fiddler-good, 
"  your  fair  lady,  noble  margrave,  bade  me  wear  them 
to  honor  her  before  the  royal  Hun.  Would  that  you 
could  be  my  messenger  to  her,  and  tell  her  that  I 
have  done  so  !  " 

"May  it  please  God  that  the  margravine  shall 
hereafter  give  you  more  besides ! "  was  the  reply ; 
"  yet  doubt  not  that  I  wrill  bear  your  message  to  my 
well-beloved  wife,  if  I  live  to  see  her  again." 


HOW  MARGRAVE  RUDIGER  WAS  SLAIN. 


201 


JSTo  longer  could  the  gentle  Riidiger  dally,  and 
seizing  another  shield,  he  rushed  fiercely  forward 
at  the  Burgundians.  Hagen  and  Volker  kept  out 
of  his  way,  according  to  their  promise,  neither  was 
young  Giselher  willing  at  first  to  fight  with  the 
father  of  his  bride.  King  Gunther  and  his  brother 
Gemot  allowed  Riidiger  to  force  his  way  into  the 
hall,  in  order  to  take  his  life  the  more  surely.  The 
margrave's  warriors  followed  manfully  in  his  foot- 
steps, brandishing  their  swords  as  they  strove  in 
close  fight.  Although  faint  and  weary,  the  guests 
dealt  many  a  swift  blow  at  their  new  opponents. 
Hagen  and  Yolker  sprang  furiously  at  Riidiger's 
noble  train,  giving  quarter  to  one  single  man  alone. 
The  clashing  blades  made  a  fearful  clatter,  blood 
flowed  from  under  helmets,  and  precious  stones  rained 
down  from  shields  into  the  gore.  The  lord  of  Bech- 
laren  proved,  in  that  day's  bloody  work,  that  weapon 
had  never  been  handled  by  a  more  redoubtable 
knight.  lie  slew  such  hosts  of  Burgundians  that 
finally  the  passion  of  Sir  Gemot  was  kindled  to  its 
uttermost. 

"  You  will  not  leave  me  one  of  my  men,  right 
noble  Riidiger,"  cried  he.  "'No  longer  can  I  bear 
to  see  my  friends  slaughtered.  Your  gift  must  be 
brought  to  bear  against  you  this  day.  So  turn  and 
face  me,  noble,  high-born  man ! " 

The  fame-aspiring  champions  sprang  wildly  at 
each  other,  and  so  sharp  were  both  their  swords  that 
neither  could  ward  off  the  other's  blows.  Riidiger 
smote  through  Gernot's  flint-like  helmet,  and  the 
blood  streamed  forth  from  that  warrior's  head. 
Although  mortally  wounded,  the  stout  Burgundian 


202 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


uplifted  the  gift  of  Eiidiger  with  both  hands,  and 
cut  the  donor  through  shield  and  morion.  At  once 
Gotelind's  lord  died  beneath  that  sword-stroke.  They 
both  dropped  down  together,  Gemot  and  Eiidiger, 
each  slain  by  the  other's  equal  skill. 

"Woe  to  this  fatal  day!"  cried  Hagen.  "In 
these  two  leaders  their  friends  have  lost  more  than 
they  will  ever  regain.  Biidiger's  men  must  now 
meet  their  due." 

Thereupon  every  man  joined  in  the  strife,  and 
ere  long  not  a  single  soul  was  living  of  the  hosts 
of  Bechlaren.  King  Gunther,  Hagen,  Dankwart  arid 
Volker  then  went  and  wept  over  the  warriors  Ger- 
not  and  Eiidiger. 

"  Death  despoils  us  fearfully,"  cried  youthful 
Giselher.  "But  now  cease  weeping,  and  let  us  has- 
ten into  the  open  air  to  cool  our  harness.  Methinks 
God  will  not  grant  us  much  longer  life." 

Many  a  knight  might  now  be  seen  taking  repose. 
All  was  hushed  and  still,  and  the  ground  was  strewn 
with  the  dead.  Meanwhile  Kriemhild  and  King 
Etzel  bore  with  them  anxious  hearts  at  hearing 
nothing  from  Eiidiger. 

"Alas!"  cried  the  queen,  "Sir  Eiidiger  parleys 
too  long  with  our  enemies.  He  does  wrong  if,  in- 
stead of  avenging  us  on  yonder  murderous  band, 
he  guide  them  back  again  to  Burgundy.  Surely 
he  has  deceived  me." 

"  That  is  false,"  thereto  retorted  Volker.  "  If  I 
dare  give  the  lie  to  so  illustrious  a  dame,  you  have 
foully  belied  the  margrave.  He  obeyed  your  man- 
dates so  faithfully  that  he  and  his  retainers  now  lie 
slain  within  the  hall." 


NOW  MARGRAVE  RUDIGER  WAS  SLAIN. 


203 


The  warrior's  corpse  was  therewith  brought  and 
placed  where  both  king  and  queen  could  see  it  well. 
No  writer  could  ever  find  adequate  words  to  describe 
the  burst  of  lamentation  that  broke  forth  at  this 
sight.  King  Etzel's  grief  was  terrible.  His  voice 
resounded  above  all  other  wailing,  like  a  lion's  roar, 
and  Krierahild  also  wept  immoderately  over  the 
good  Kudiger's  body. 


THIRTY-EIGHTH  ADVENTURE. 


HOW  SIR  DIETRICH'S  MEN  WERE  ALL  SLAIN. 

THE  cry  of  lamentation  increased  to  such  a  pitch 
that  tower  and  palace  rang  with  the  doleful 
sound.  A  knight  of  Bern  heard  it,  and  ran  swiftly 
to  bear  the  mournful  tidings  to  his  master  Dietrich. 
"  Such  loud  wailing,"  he  said,  "  has  spread  among 
the  people  that  surely  either  the  king  or  dame 
Kriemhild  must  be  dead." 

"My  faithful  men,"  spake  the  host  of  Bern, 
seeing  the  excitement  rife  among  his  retainers,  "  be 
not  over-hasty.  Believe  me,  whatever  evil  has  been 
wrought  by  these  home-distant  warriors  arose  through 
dire  necessity.  Let  the  compact  I  made  with  them 
now  prove  to  their  advantage." 

Wolfhart  hereupon  declared  his  readiness  to  has- 
ten to  the  hall  and  learn  the  full  particulars  of 
what  had  occurred,  but  Sir  Dietrich,  knowing  well 
this  knight's  fiery,  impetuous  nature,  and  the  gall 
that  was  now  working  within  him,  was  unwilling 
to  have  the  question  asked  by  him.  Instead,  the 
lord  of  Bern  sent  his  vassal  Helfrich  with  orders  to 
find  out  what  had  really  happened  to  cause  such 
exaggerated  grief.  Soon  Helfrich  returned,  weeping 
bitterly. 

"  What  news  do  you  bring  us  ? "  cried  Dietrich. 
"  Why  weep  you  so  grievously,  Helfrich,  noble 
knight?" 

204 


HOW  SIR  DIETRICH'S  MEN  WERE  SLAIN.  205 

"Alas!"  exclaimed  the  champion,  "yon  Burgun- 
dians  have  slain  faithful  Riidiger ! " 

"  God  forbid  ! "  cried  Dietrich  ;  "  that  were  revenge 
worthy  the  foul  fiend  himself!  How  hath  Riidiger 
merited  such  woeful  return  for  his  friendship?" 

"If  they  have  done  this  deed,"  spake  bold  Wolf- 
hart,  "  their  lives  shall  pay  the  forfeit.  It  would  be 
to  our  dishonor  should  we  tolerate  such  an  outrage." 

Sir  Dietrich  had  seated  himself  beside  a  window 
to  calmly  take  counsel  within  himself,  for  his  heart 
was  heavy  and  sorrow-laden.  Finally,  he  bade  mas- 
ter Hildebrand  hasten  to  the  guests  and  learn  from 
their  own  lips  what  had  occurred.  Master  Hilde- 
brand was  a  well-approved  warrior,  and  he  boldly 
turned  to  obey  this  behest  with  neither  shield  nor 
sword  in  his  hand,  purposing  to  seek  the  guests  in 
peaceful  fashion.  His  sister's  son,  grim  Wolfhart, 
saw  this  with  angry  discontent,  and  assured  him 
that  he  must  expect  only  insult  from  such  a  foe  if 
he  went  unarmed.  So  the  old  and  wise  took  coun- 
sel of  the  young  and  inexperienced ;  but  ere  the 
warrior  could  don  his  armor,  all  Dietrich's  knights 
had  flung  on  theirs  in  haste.  Each  fiercely  shook 
his  blade,  and  it  troubled  good  Hildebrand  sorely. 
He  asked  whither  they  were  going,  and  when  he 
found  that  they  were  bent  upon  accompanying  him 
he  could  not  but  consent.  So  soon  as  Volker 
saw  the  Amelungen  warriors  advancing,  sheathed 
in  bright  armor,  uplifting  their  swords,  he  gave 
prompt  notice  to  his  liege  lords.  He  had  scarcely 
done  speaking  when  Hildebrand  drew  near,  set 
down  his  shield  upon  the  ground,  and  thus  ad- 
dressed Gunther's  band: 


206 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"Alas!  ye  good  knights,  what  had  Riidiger  done 
to  yon?  My  lord  Dietrich  sent  me  hither  to  learn 
whether  it  be  really  true,  as  some  declare,  that  one 
of  you  has  slain  the  noble  margrave." 

"  The  woeful  news  cannot  be  denied,"  said  Ha- 
gen.  "  Would  that  it  were  false,  for  Rtidiger's 
sake ! " 

Then  there  arose  a  sobbing  wail  among  the  Am- 
elungen  knights,  and  one  there  was  who  declared 
that  no  greater  sorrow  could  be  his,  did  his  own 
father  lie  dead  before  him.  In  a  storm  of  passion, 
Wolf  hart  bewailed  the  loss  that  could  never  be  re- 
paired, and  old  Ilildebrand  sobbed  out  a  request 
that  Rudiger's  bloody  corpse  might  be  delivered 
unto  him,  in  order  that  he  and  his  friends  could 
honor  it  with  the  last  sacred  rites.  Thereupon  Ring 
Gunther  sneeringly  professed  great  satisfaction  that 
there  were  those  who  dare  pay  honor  to  the  mem- 
ory of  one  who  well  deserved  it,  saying  that  he 
considered  no  service  so  good  as  that  which  friend 
pays  to  friend. 

"  How  long  must  we  be  kept  waiting  ? "  cried 
Wolfhartj  proudly.  "  Since  our  choicest  comfort  has 
fallen  by  your  hands,  it  behooves  you  to  let  us  take 
him  hence  for  burial." 

"None  there  is  who  will  bring  him  to  you," 
retorted  the  fiddler,  bold  and  brave.  "Enter  the 
hall  and  bear  the  body  hence,  whoever  has  the  cour- 
age." 

"Anger  us  not  farther,  thou  fiddler ! "  exclaimed 
Wolfhart.  "  God  knows  you  have  done  us  ill  enough 
already,  and  had  not  my  lord  forbidden  strife,  you 
would  now  be  in  a  grievous  plight." 


how  sir  Dietrich's  men  were  slain.  207 


"  It  is  very  well,"  mocked  Yolker,  "  to  talk  about 
being  forbidden  what  we  lack  courage  to  do." 

"Beware  how  you  scoff  at  me,"  cried  Wolf- 
hart,  " or  I  will  so  tune  your  strings  that  you  will 
have  something  to  talk  about  if  ever  you  journey 
home  to  the  Rhine." 

"  If  you  harm  my  strings,"  shrieked  Yolker,  "  I 
will  sadly  dim  your  helmet's  lustre." 

Thus,  they  bandied  words  until  Wolf  hart  could 
no  longer  restrain  his  fury.  He  made  a  movement 
to  leap  forward  at  the  invincible  fiddler,  but  his 
uncle  Ilildebrand  held  him  back,  begging  him  not 
to  risk  his  lord's  displeasure. 

"  Let  loose  the  lion,  master ! "  shouted  Yolker, 
"  right  savage  is  his  mood ;  yet  if  he  come  near  me, 
great  though  be  his  prowess,  I  will  deal  him  such 
a  stroke  with  my  sword  fiddle-bow  that  never  more 
will  he  rage." 

By  this  time 'Wolf hart's  fury  was  kindled  to  its 
height,  and  holding  aloft  his  shield,  he  sprang  for- 
ward, like  a  wild  lion,  to  the  attack.  A  crowd  of 
his  friends  followed  his  example.  Swift  as  were  the 
whole  band  of  warriors,  aged  Ilildebrand  first  reached 
the  stairway.  Straightway  the  master  leaped  upon 
Hagen,  and  soon  there  broke  a  fire-red  blast  from 
the  clashing  of  their  broadswords.  The  steady  stream 
of  fight,  however,  soon  swept  these  two  heroes 
asunder.  Meanwhile  sturdy  Wolfhart  had  attacked 
Yolker,  and  smote  upon  that  hero's  helmet  with 
such  force  that  the  keen-edged  sword  reached  the 
beaver.  That  stroke  Yolker  repaid  with  a  violence 
that  sent  Wolfhart  reeling  from  him.  Then  they 
slashed  at  each  other,  making  sparks  fly  from  their 


208 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAXD. 


hauberks,  until  they  were  parted  by  a  daring  Am- 
elungen  knight. 

Noble  King  Gunther  met  the  renowned  cham- 
pions of  Bern  with  a  willing  hand,  and  young  Gisel- 
her  made  many  a  polished  morion  red  with  gore. 
The  grim  warrior  Dankwart  did  battle  so  furiously 
that  all  his  previous  efforts  seemed  but  as  a  puff  of 
wind  in  comparison.  On  the  other  hand,  Sir  Die- 
trich's men  gave  evidence  of  how  little  it  was  their 
wont  to  spare  themselves.  Aged  Hildebrand  fought 
as  though  he  were  frantic,  and  many  a  good  knight 
was  overmastered  by  Wolf  hart's  stalwart  hand.  Duke 
Siegstab,  Dietrich's  nephew,  fought  as  his  courage 
moved  him,  and  a  bloody  stream  gushed  forth  wher- 
ever he  plied  his  sword.  When  the  valiant  Volker 
espied  this,  he  sprang  furiously  upon  him,  and  felled 
him  with  one  stroke.  At  once  Sir  Siegstab  lost  his 
life  through  that  grim  and  dauntless  fiddler. 

"Ah,  my  dear  lord ! "  cried  master  Hildebrand, 
in  anguish,  "  Volker  shall  no  longer  go  scathless 
after  this." 

Hereupon  he  smote  at  Volker  with  such  a  sure 
aim  that  a  shower  of  splinters  flew  from  buckler 
and  from  helmet.  Thereby  sturdy  Volker  came  to 
his  end.  At  this,  Dietrich's  men  rushed  on  from 
every  side,  slashing  from  right  to  left,  and  snapping 
their  sword-points  in  the  fray.  When  Hagen  found 
that  Volker  was  dead,  his  bosom  was  rent  with 
anguish  beyond  all  that  he  had  ever  known.  Vow- 
ing vengeance  upon  the  slayer  of  his  best  comrade, 
he  uplifted  his  shield  and  sprang  forward.  Just 
then,  Helfrich  slew  Dankwart;  but  as  the  warrior 
panted  his  last  breath,  he  returned  the  death-blow 


how  sir  Dietrich's  men"  were  slain.  209 


his  foeman  had  given.  Gunther  and  Giselher  were 
sorely  grieved  at  their  brave  Dankwart's  loss.  Never 
had  the  Burgundian  heroes  fallen  had  not  christians 
as  well  as  heathens  conspired  against  them.  Un- 
flinching Wolf  hart  thrice  cut  his  way  through  the 
hall  of  carnage,  slaying  King  Gunther's  men  by 
scores. 

"  Woe  is  me  that  ever  I  won  so  fierce  a  foe ! " 
cried  Giselher.  "  Dauntless  knight,  turn  hither  to 
me,  I  will  end  this,  I  can  bear  it  no  longer." 

Thus  defied,  Wolfhart  rushed  at  Giselher  with 
fearful  vehemence.  Ute's  fair  son  received  the  on- 
set with  many  a  rapid  blow,  and  at  last  he  smote 
Sir  Dietrich's  vassal  through  the  good  hauberk,  so 
that  the  blood  gushed  out  in  torrents.  Soon  as  fear- 
less Wolfhart  found  that  he  was  wounded  to  the 
death,  he  heaved  his  broadsword  high  in  the  air 
and  smote  Giselher  through  helmet  and  hauberk. 
They  had  given  each  other  into  grim  death's  embrace. 

When  Hildebrand  saw  Wolfhart  fall,  he  threw 
his  arms  around  the  wounded  man  and  strove  to 
bear  him  from  the  house,  but  found  him  too  heavy. 
Then  the  aged  man  wept  bitterly.  The  dying  war- 
rior begged  his  uncle  not  to  mourn  for  him,  nor  to 
permit  his  loving  kinsmen  to  sorrow  over  his  clay. 
He  needed  no  lamenting,  he  said,  —  he  had  borne 
himself  bravely  in  the  fight,  and  died  gloriously,  by 
a  king's  son  slain,  whom  he  slew  in  return.  After 
this,  good  Wolfhart  closed  his  eyes  in  death. 

At  this  moment,  Hagen  drew  near  master  Hilde- 
brand, and  thinking  how  the  old  warrior  had  de- 
prived him  of  the  trusty  Volker,  he  struck  at  him 
with  the  good  sword  Balmung.    The  stroke  was  re- 


210 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LA^D. 


paid  with  one  that  proved  a  nobly  wielded  sword. 
Then  Hagen  gave  a  second  blow  that  cut  through 
his  opponent's  good  hauberk,  and  Sir  Dietrich's 
man,  looking  for  worse  if  he  remained,  flung  away 
his  buckler  and  fled.  Now  not  a  man  was  living 
of  all  the  Burgundian  train,  except  Gunther  and 
Hagen  alone,  while  Dietrich's  men  all  lay  slain  up- 
on the  ground. 

Noble  Dietrich  sat  alone,  oppressed  with  anxious 
care.  When  he  beheld  Hildebrand,  in  his  bloody 
harness,  he  shrinkingly  asked  him  for  tidings. 

"How  is  this!  "cried  the  lord  of  Bern.  "Have 
you  been  fighting  with  the  guests  in  yonder  halH 
If  so,  you  have  broken  my  commands." 

"This  is  Hagen's  work,"  responded  Hildebrand. 
"He  attacked  me, —  barely  have  I  escaped  with  my 
life." 

"  You  have  deserved  this !  "  exclaimed  Dietrich  ; 
"I  promised  friendship  to  the  guests;  right  well 
you  knew  this,  yet  presumed  to  break  troth  with 
them." 

Then  the  aged  warrior  began  to  recount  all  that 
had  taken  place,  giving  full  particulars  of  the  cause 
of  provocation.  Dietrich  wept  grievous  tears  at 
hearing  to  a  certainty  that  good  Riidiger  was  dead, 
slain*  by  the  hand  of  noble  Gemot,  and  he  vowed 
that  he  would  himself  join  his  warriors  and  question 
the  Burgundian  knights. 

"  Alas !  I  am  your  only  warrior,  the  others  are 
all  dead,"  spake  master  Hildebrand. 

"If  they  have  slaughtered  all  my  liegemen," 
cried  the  horrified  Dietrich,  "then  am  I  indeed  lost! 
But  how  is  it  that  these  bold  guests,  who  must  be 


HOW  SIR  DIETRICH'S  MEN  WERE  SLAIN. 


211 


weary  with  long  fighting,  could  overmaster  my 
trusty  band?  Tell  me,  lives  there  yet  one  of  those 
grim  strangers?" 

"  There  lives  not  one,"  rejoined  master  Hilde- 
brand,  "  save  Hagen  of  Tronje  and  King  Gunther." 

"Ah,  woe  is  me,  dear  Wolf  hart,"  wailed  the 
lord  of  Bern  ;  "  since  I  have  lost  you,  would  that 
I  had  never  been  born !  Who  can  help  me  back 
into  the  Amelungen  land,  now  that  my  trusty  fol- 
lowers are  dead?  Siegstab,  Wolfwine  and  Wolf- 
brand  are  gone,  and  bold  Helfrich,  too,  has  met 
his  doom.  Ah,  woe  is  me  that  no  one  can  die 
of  grief!" 


THIRTY-NINTH  A D VENTURE. 


HOW  GUNTHER,  HAGEN"  AND  KRIEMHILD  WERE  SLAIN. 

r^vIETRICH  sought  out  his  own  armor  now,  and 


Hildebrand  assisted  him  to  equip,  and  all  the 
while  the  mighty  man  wailed  so  loudly  that  the 
house  shook  with  the  thunder  of  his  voice.  Yet 
soon  he  recovered  his  wonted  heroic  mood,  and 
grasping  his  shield,  he  sallied  forth  with  master 
Hildebrand.  The  knight  of  Tronje  saw  their  ap- 
proach, and  cried : 

"  Yonder  comes  Dietrich ;  doubtless  he  will 
avenge  his  slaughtered  liegemen.  To-day  all  shall 
bear  witness  who  can  best  wield  a  sword." 

These  words  were  heard  by  Dietrich  and  Hil- 
debrand, as  they  drew  near  the  pair  they  were  seek- 
ing. Sir  Dietrich  leaned  his  shield  against  the 
wall,  and  in  tones  of  deep,  impassioned  anguish, 
thus  began : 

"  What  have  I  done,  King  Gunther,  that  you 
should  so  cruelly  wrong  me?  Was  it  not  enough 
that  good  Rudiger  was  slain  by  your  people,  with- 
out bereaving  me  as  well  of  all  my  warriors?  Yrou 
see  me  now  despoiled  of  all  comfort,  and  you  your- 
selves are  bowed  down  with  anguish  at  the  loss  of 
your  own  brave  comrades." 

"  We  are  not  so  much  to  blame  as  you  think," 
rejoined  Hagen.     "lrour  people  advanced  to  this 

212 


GUNTHER,  HAGEH  AND  KRIEMHILD  SLAIN.  213 


house,  armed  for  an  attack.  The  true  story  has  not 
been  told  you." 

"  How  can  I  doubt  my  trusty  Hildebrand's  word?" 
exclaimed  Dietrich.  :'  He  told  me  that  my  Amel- 
ungen  knights  demanded  the  corpse  of  Riidiger,  and 
that  you  returned  them  only  taunts  and  jeers." 

"  They  were  denied  their  request,"  here  inter- 
posed the  landlord  of  the  Rhine,  "out  of  defiance 
to  King  Etzel,  whereat  Wolf  hart  grew  infuriated, 
and  thus  the  tight  began." 

"  So  be  it  then ! "  rejoined  the  champion  of  Bern. 
"  Now,  in  the  name  of  all  your  virtue,  Gunther, 
noble  king,  give  me  such  satisfaction  as  you  may 
with  honor,  for  the  bitter  anguish  you  have  caused 
me.  Yield  up  yourself  and  your  valiant  man,  Ha- 
gen,  to  me,  as  hostages.  Appease  me  thus ;  my  woes 
shall  then  remain  unavenged,  and  1  will  protect 
you  against  the  Huns.  You  shall  always  find  me 
steadfast  and  kind." 

u  God  forbid  !  "  thundered  Hagen.  "  Never  shall 
two  well-tried  knights,  who  yet  stand  unfettered  in 
their  good  harness,  undergo  the  shame  of  a  sur- 
render." 

"You  should  not  refuse  me  this,"  resumed  Die- 
trich. "  Gunther  and  Hagen,  you  have  both  so  bit- 
terly aggrieved  me,  and  filled  my  heart  with  wailing 
and  sorrow,  that  you  owe  me  the  amends  I  ask.  I 
pledge  you  my  word  of  honor  that  I  will  guide 
you  in  safety  back  to  your  home,  or  die  with  you." 

"Demand  no  further,"  cried  Hagen,  once  more. 
"  Cowards  indeed  were  we,  did  we  yield  ourselves  to 
equal  numbers,  for  I  see  no  one  with  you  but  mas- 
ter Hildebrand." 


214 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"Nevertheless,  you  would  do  well  to  accept  my 
lord's  offer,"  said  master  Hildebrand.  "  Believe  me, 
the  hour  is  not  far  distant  when  you  may  be  glad 
to  accept  it,  and  none  will  make  it  to  you." 

"Ay,  it  were  perchance  better  to  accept  it  than 
to  fly  hence  as  you  did,"  retorted  Hagen. 

"What  right  have  you  to  tannt  me  thus?"  re- 
joined Hildebrand.  "  Pray,  who  was  it  that  sat  idly 
by  upon  his  buckler  that  time  when  Walther  of  Spain 
slew  so  many  of  your  friends  ?  You  will  have  enough 
to  do  if  you  look  to  your  own  shortcomings.'' 

"  Shame,  shame  !  "  cried  Dietrich.  "  111  becomes 
it  two  such  knights  to  bandy  words  like  old  women. 
I  charge  you  to  say  no  more,  master  Hildebrand. 
Now  tell  me,  Sir  Hagen,"  the  lord  of  Bern  contin- 
ued, "said  you  not,  as  I  approached,  that  you  were 
ready  to  match  your  strength  with  mine?" 

"Far  be  it  from  me  to  deny  it,"  responded  Ha- 
gen. "I  am  more  ready  now  than  ever  to  test  the 
might  of  the  Nibelungen  sword,  for  you  have  roused 
my  ire  by  making  mention  of  surrender." 

With  these  words,  grim  Hagen  flew  down  the 
stairs  and  rushed  at  his  foeman.  Noble  Dietrich  well 
knew  how  fierce  a  knight  was  now  standing  against 
him  ;  so  at  first  he  merely  warded  off  the  tempestuous 
blows  that  were  showered  upon  him  from  the  sword 
Balmung.  Watching  his  opportunity,  however,  he 
dealt  a  return  stroke  that  cast  his  opponent,  sorely 
wounded,  to  the  ground.  Very  readily  could  Sir 
Dietrich  have  then  put  an  end  to  the  lord  of  Tronie, 
but,  knowing  how  exhausted  Hagen  was  with  long 
fighting,  he  thought  it  would  bring  him  little  honor 
to  do  so.    Instead,  therefore,  he  seized  Gunther's  vas- 


GUNTHER,  HAGEN  AND  KRIEMHILD  SLAIN.  215 


sal  in  his  powerful  arms,  and  bore  captive  to  dame 
Kriernhild's  presence  the  boldest  knight  that  ever 
wielded  weapon.  A  fierce,  savage  joy  flamed  up  in 
the  heart  of  the  once  gentle  queen,  and  she  over- 
whelmed the  lord  of  Bern  with  praise.  She  told  him 
that  he  had  requited  her  for  all  her  long  sorrow,  and 
assured  him  that,  if  she  lived,  he  should  be  richly 
rewarded.  Dietrich  implored  her  not  to  take  the 
captive  warrior's  life,  reminding  her  that  he  might 
some  day  make  amends  for  his  past  transgressions. 
Without  a  word,  King  Etzel's  queen  had  her  enemy 
led  away  to  a  dungeon  where  none  could  behold  him. 

Meanwhile  Gunther  was  shouting  loudly  for  Die- 
trich, that  he  might  be  revenged  upon  him  for 
Hagen's  capture.  Dietrich  swiftly  obeyed  the  call, 
*  and  Gunther,  seeing  him  approach,  rushed  forward 
from  the  hall  to  meet  him.  As  they  confronted  each 
other,  there  arose  a  fearful  din  from  the  clashing  of 
their  swords;  palace  and  turret  resounded  with  the 
strokes.  Well  trained  in  combat  as  was  Dietrich, 
Gunther  fought  so  furiously  against  him  that  his  es- 
cape was  truly  miraculous.  Well  indeed  did  King 
Gunther  display  his  valor,  yet  finally  the  kuight  of 
Bern  subdued  him.  The  blood  streamed  forth  from 
the  warrior's  harness,  drawn  by  the  fatal  weapon  that 
Sir  Dietrich  bore.  Then  the  king  was  captured,  as 
had  been  Hagen  .before,  and  carried  in  bonds  into 
the  presence  of  King  Etzel's  queen. 

"You  are  welcome,  King  Gunther,"  cried  she. 

"I  should  thank  you  for  your  greeting,  most 
noble  sister/'  said  Gunther,  "did  I  think  that  good 
will  prompted  it ;  but  well  know  I,  from  your  fierce 
temper,  queen,  the  derisive  import  of  your  words." 


216 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


"Most  royal  dame,"  then  said  the  lord  of  Bern, 
"such  noble  knights  have  never  been  brought  into 
bondage  as  those  whom  I  have  this  day  delivered  into 
your  hand.  May  these  homeless  ones  have  fair  treat- 
ment, for  my  sake  ! " 

Kriemhild  replied  that  she  would  willingly  grant 
them  the  treatment  they  deserved ;  whereupon,  with 
tears  streaming  from  his  eyes,  Dietrich  went  out  from 
her  presence,  and  then  King  Etzel's  frenzied  queen 
wreaked  a  bloody  vengeance  on  those  indomitable 
champions  who  had  been  committed  to  her  care. 
She  had  them  imprisoned  each  in  a  separate  cell, 
that  they  might  have  no  chance  of  scheming  togeth- 
er, and  she  determined  that  her  dear  lord  Sieg- 
fried's death  should  now  be  avenged.  So  soon  as 
her  brother  was  borne  from  her  sight,  she  sought  the 
dungeon  where  Hagen  lay,  and  thus  addressed  the 
knight : 

"Give  me  back  what  you  have  taken  from  me, 
and  you  may  yet  return  alive  to  Burgundy." 

"Your  demand  is  idle,  high-born  dame,"  spake 
grim  Hagen.  "A  solemn  oath  have  I  sworn  never 
to  reveal  the  treasure's  hiding-place  so  long  as  one  of 
my  lords  remains  alive." 

"I  will  put  an  end  to  this,"  said  Kriemhild. 

Then  the  frantic  woman  sped  away,  ordered  her 
sole  remaining  brother's  head  to  be  cut  off  and 
brought  to  her,  seized  the  bloody  trophy  by  the  hair 
and  bore  it  herself  into  Hagen's  cell.  For  awhile 
the  lord  of  Tronje  viewed  his  master's  head  with 
shuddering  horror,  then  he  thus  addressed  remorseless 
Kriemhild : 

"Ay,  you  have  ended  this  to  your  own  pleasure, 


GUNTHER,  HAGEN  AND  KRIEMHILD  SLAIN.  217 


precisely  as  I  thought  you  would  end  it.  Brave 
King  Gunther  now  is  dead, —  young  Giselher  and 
Gemot,  too,  are  gone ;  no  one  knoweth,  now,  where 
the  hoard  lies  buried,  save  God  and  myself  alone. 
Never  shall  you,  foul  fiend  in  woman's  form,  share 
the  secret." 

"Miserable,  indeed,  is  the  retribution  I  have 
gained,"  quoth  she.  "  But  Siegfried's  sword  shall 
at  least  be  mine.  My  lord  wore  it  when  last  these 
eyes  beheld  him  in  life.  Woe  passing  all  other  hath 
since  wrung  my  heart." 

With  these  words,  she  sprang  forward,  drew  the 
sword  Balmung  from  its  sheath  at  Hagen's  side, 
grasping  it  firmly  with  both  hands,  swung  it  high 
in  the  air,  and  ere  Hagen  could  recover  from  his 
consternation  she  had  brought  it  down  with  one  fell 
stroke  which  instantly  severed  from  his  body  her 
hated  enemy's  head  King  Etzel  witnessed  the 
hideous  deed,  and  was  filled  with  anguish  and  dismay. 

"  Alas !  "  ejaculated  he,  "  that  the  hand  of  woman 
should  slay  the  noblest  knight  that  ever  bore  buckler 
in  battle.  His  foeman  though  I  was,  I  must  needs 
sorrow  over  his  fate." 

"Little  shall  her  deed  profit  her,"  spake  master 
Hildebrand.  "  Great  though  be  the  grief  this  knight 
of  Tronje  has  caused  me,  I  shall  avenge  the  brave 
hero's  death." 

Furiously  the  aged  man  sprang  at  Kriemhild,  and 
cut  at  her  with  his  mighty  sword  until  he  ended  her 
poisoned  existence.  Her  shrieks  of  terror  availed  her 
not,  and  she  died  tightly  clasping  the  sword  Balmung 
to  her  bosom.  The  ghastly  corpses  lay  stretched 
around,  and  added  to  their  numbers  was  now  that 


218 


ECHOES  FROM  MIST-LAND. 


of  the  fair  and  once  noble  queen.  Sir  Dietrich  and 
King  Etzel  wept  and  sadly  bewailed  the  wretched 
fate  of  their  friends  and  kinsfolk.  The  brave  and  the 
mighty  were  laid  low,  and  King  Etzel's  gay  high- tide 
had  ended  in  woe,  as  so  often  in  life  it  is  the  wont  of 
pleasure  to  end. 

Whoever  would  gain  further  knowledge  of  King 
Etzel  and  the  weeping  knights,  esquires,  dames  and 
damsels  of  his  realm,  must  seek  it  elsewhere,  for  at 
this  point  the  ancient  bard  who  is  our  authority  tells 
his  readers  that  his  story  is  ended.  This,  says  he,  is 
the  Nibelungen  Lay. 


